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Questions and Answers
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?
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?
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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?
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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?
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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.'?
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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.
