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Questions and Answers
When should you use a comma after certain introductory elements like 'yes' or 'well'?
When should you use a comma after certain introductory elements like 'yes' or 'well'?
Which of the following sentences correctly uses a comma after an introductory participial phrase?
Which of the following sentences correctly uses a comma after an introductory participial phrase?
When do you need to use a comma after two or more introductory prepositional phrases?
When do you need to use a comma after two or more introductory prepositional phrases?
In which scenario should you use a comma after a single introductory prepositional phrase?
In which scenario should you use a comma after a single introductory prepositional phrase?
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How does an adverb clause at the end of a sentence usually relate to commas?
How does an adverb clause at the end of a sentence usually relate to commas?
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Which introductory element does not typically need a comma after it at the beginning of a sentence?
Which introductory element does not typically need a comma after it at the beginning of a sentence?
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What is the purpose of using commas after two or more introductory prepositional phrases?
What is the purpose of using commas after two or more introductory prepositional phrases?
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In which situation is a comma at the end of an introductory prepositional phrase necessary?
In which situation is a comma at the end of an introductory prepositional phrase necessary?
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When is it okay not to use a comma with an adverb clause at the end of a sentence?
When is it okay not to use a comma with an adverb clause at the end of a sentence?
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What is needed for clarity in sentences like 'In the morning sunlight streamed through the window.'?
What is needed for clarity in sentences like 'In the morning sunlight streamed through the window.'?
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Study Notes
Using Commas in Writing
- Commas are used to separate items in dates and addresses
- Example: She was born on January 26, 1988, in Cheshire, Connecticut.
- Notice that a comma separates the last item in a date or address from the words that follow it.
Commas in Letters
- Use a comma after the salutation of a personal letter and after the closing of any letter
- Example: Dear Dad,
- Example: With love,
Common Uses of Commas
- Use commas to separate items in a series (three or more items)
- Example: January, February, and March are all summer months in the Southern Hemisphere.
- Note: Only short independent clauses in a series may be separated by commas. Longer clauses or those with commas should be separated by semicolons.
- Use commas to separate two or more adjectives that come before a noun
- Example: Adam Williams played a powerful, brilliant game.
- Note: Do not place a comma between an adjective and the noun immediately following it.
- Use commas before and, but, for, nor, or, so, or yet when joining independent clauses in a compound sentence
- Example: They had been working very hard, but they didn’t seem especially tired.
- Use commas to set off an expression that interrupts a sentence
- Example: Ann Myers, our neighbor, is a fine golfer.
- Note: Use commas to set off parenthetical expressions that add information or show a relationship between ideas.
- Use commas after certain introductory elements, such as:
- Yes, no, or mild exclamations (e.g., well, why)
- Introductory participial phrases (e.g., Beginning a new school year, Zelda felt somewhat nervous.)
- Two or more introductory prepositional phrases (e.g., At the bottom of the hill, you will see the baseball field.)
- Single introductory prepositional phrases that need a comma for clarity (e.g., In the morning, sunlight streamed through the window.)
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Description
Test your knowledge of punctuation rules for separating clauses in a series. Identify when to use commas and semicolons correctly in sentences with multiple independent clauses. Practice distinguishing between short and long independent clauses in a series.
