How does a comma help a reader?
Commas help your reader figure out which words go together in a sentence and which parts of your sentences are most important. Using commas incorrectly may confuse the reader, signal ignorance of writing rules, or indicate carelessness.
Does my sentence need a comma?
When an adverbial phrase begins a sentence, it’s often followed by a comma but it doesn’t have to be, especially if it’s short. As a rule of thumb, if the phrase is longer than about four words, use the comma. But, if there is a chance of misreading the sentence, use the comma: Before eating the family said grace.
When should an Oxford comma be used?
The proper definition of the Oxford comma is “a comma used after the penultimate item in a list of three or more items, before ‘and’ or ‘or’.” For example: “Today I went to lunch with my roommates, Tom, and Molly.”
How do you punctuate a list of items?
Punctuate the list items with commas if they are not complete sentences; with semicolons, if they are complete sentences. Use the same spacing for in-sentence lists as in regular non-list text. Whenever possible, make the in-sentence list occur at the end of the sentence.
How do you use commas in a list of three?
An Oxford Comma is a comma used before the last list item in a list of three or more items. When there are three or more list items, then those following “US convention” should use a comma (often called an Oxford Comma) with the conjunction (usually “and” or “or”).
What is comma and examples?
Rule 1. Use commas to separate words and word groups in a simple series of three or more items. Example: My estate goes to my husband, son, daughter-in-law, and nephew. Note: When the last comma in a series comes before and or or (after daughter-in-law in the above example), it is known as the Oxford comma.
What is the Oxford comma rule?
To give the Oxford comma its technical definition, it is a comma used before the final conjunction in a list of three or more items. When you’re writing a list, you naturally include commas to separate each item, but an Oxford comma is when you also put a comma before the “and [Final Item]”.
Do you use the Oxford comma in legal writing?
Lawyers should use the Oxford comma to help avoid ambiguity. Three ambiguities may arise without this comma: Whether the two final items in a list are one combined element or separate.
When should I use a comma?
Commas are needed before coordinating conjunctions, after dependent clauses (when they precede independent clauses), and to set off appositives. The Oxford comma reduces ambiguity in lists.
What is a list of three or more items usually separated by commas?
In English grammar, a series is a list of three or more items (words, phrases, or clauses), usually arranged in parallel form. Also known as a list or catalog. The items in a series are usually separated by commas (or semicolons if the items themselves contain commas). See Serial Commas.
Do you use a comma to separate items in a series?
The important things to remember about using commas in series are these:
- A series includes 3 or more items of the same type (words or groups of words).
- The series is connected by and, or, or nor before the last item.
- A comma separates items in the series, including the final item preceded by and, or, or nor.
Where do commas go in a list?
Use commas to separate three or more items in a series. Lists of three or more words, phrases, and clauses require commas between each item. For example: a.
Do you put a comma before including but not limited to?
Q. What punctuation is required for “including but not limited to”? No punctuation is required, but commas after including and to would work just fine; they may be helpful if the phrase introduces a long or complex list. Dashes would work as well.
Is a comma part of grammar?
Are commas even grammar? For many people, the idea that they aren’t might be ludicrous. But language scholars by and large think of punctuation (whether to use the Oxford comma; whether to put commas and full stops inside inverted commas or outside) as orthography or mechanics, not grammar.
How do you use which in a sentence?
“Of which” is part of a relative clause.
- She discovered so many spiders, of which she was most afraid.
- He answered all the listening and reading exercises, of which the test mostly consisted.
- The team won a silver medal, of which they were very proud.
What does a comma mean in logic?
The comma is there to separate two items in a set.
What is another word for comma?
What is another word for comma?
| semicolon | colon |
|---|---|
| period | punctuation |
| punctuation mark |
Does the comma go before or after while?
Don’t use a comma before while when you mean “during the same time.” Do use a comma before while when you mean “whereas” or “although.”
How do you use include in a list?
The only time you would place a colon after “include” is when you are setting up a bullet list rather than a sentence, as in these examples: Your choices for the banquet menu include: roast beef with mashed potatoes, gravy, and green beans. chicken quesadillas with cheesy nachos.
What punctuation goes after including?
colon
What is a comma at the top called?
This final comma, known as an Oxford or serial comma, is useful in a complex series of elements or phrases but is often considered unnecessary in a simple series such as in the example above. It usually comes down to a style choice by the writer. The semicolon (;) is used to connect independent clauses.
Is there a comma after include?
Whether “including” requires a comma will depend on what the word is doing in your sentence. If it is part of a non-restrictive or unessential clause or phrase, you need a comma. On the other hand, if “including” is the start of a phrase that is essential to your sentence’s meaning, you should not add a comma.
Does a comma mean and?
Put a comma before the concluding conjunction in a series, however, if an integral element of the series requires a conjunction: I had orange juice, toast, and ham and egg for breakfast. In the Penguin Guide to Punctuation, R.L Trask likewise recommends omitting a comma before and.