Despite the fact that not all style books agree on this issue, we recommend using a comma after the nexttolast item in a series the serial or oxford or harvard comma, as it is called. When the last comma in a series comes before and or or after daughterinlaw in the above example, it is known as the oxford comma. Sometimes we get grammar questions in the writeshop mailbag. I would like to order a salad, a sandwich, and dessert. Voiceover so for example, here in the united states, national blueberry muffin day is july 11th, and if we wanted to refer to a historical blueberry muffin day, lets say july 11th, 1981. The oxford comma got its name because editors at the oxford press encourage using it. Imagine that you text a shopping list to your roommate charlie, whos at the store shopping for your birthday party. Only use a comma to separate a dependent clause at. Displaying all worksheets related to commas in series. Worksheets are using commas, comma packet, commas to separate items in a series, name practice with commas, commas to separate a series of words work, comma exercises, commas in sentences work, rules for using the comma. How a comma can change the law legal grammar rules.
We use commas to separate items in a series or list. Concentrating on the proper use of commas is not mere form for forms sake. 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. Great tool for student engagement, memorization skills, and another way to look at informational text. A comma is never used as an end mark, and it is read with a shorter pause than an end mark. It is a piece of punctuation that has many many functions. Items in a series occur whenever a sentence includes a list of two or more things. Your learner will add commas to each unpunctuated sentence, then get some writing practice as your child comes up with some series sentences. The comma before and with a series of three or more items is called the harvard or the oxford comma. In english, writers often string together a bunch of singleword descriptions, adjectives, in grammar lingo. Commas in a series, commas in a list, and commas in the date worksheet pack.
How to use commas in a series of items grammar lessons duration. Using a comma before and in a series get it write online. Pllalquk1ndrhq44leu1dybejdgxr7june watch more grammar lessons videos. The most important rules for using commas without looking dumb. Remember, too, that a pause in reading is not always a reliable reason to use a comma. Although we are often taught that commas are used to help us add breathing spaces to sentences they are, in fact, more accurately used to.
The items in a series are usually separated by commas or semicolons if the items themselves contain commas. How to punctuate a series with commas and semicolons the. One use of the comma is to separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses in a list or series. Comma goes inside you when the context calls for a comma at the end of material enclosed in quotation marks, the comma should be placed inside the quotation marks. There are a few basic grammar rules that can clear things up for you. English grammar for dummies, 2nd edition add to cart amazon. Commas can be used after the setting the scene for a sentence, after transitional phrases, after interjections, before conjunctions, for parentheses, after a long subject, in lists, and with the vocative case. Punctuating a series is a simple aspect of sentence construction, but theres a surprisingly fierce debate at the heart of it. Jan 01, 2014 while there are no simple rules regarding the placement of comma with conjunctions, the following guidelines should help. Dont separate two nouns that appear together as a compound subject or compound object. Helen states that a comma should never ever come before and. If youre wondering about these questions, continue. The serial comma, or oxford comma, is the comma that sometimes goes between the final two items in a series. The writing style manuals that recommend using a comma when a conjunction joins the last two elements of a series are chicago manual of style, fowlers modern english usage, the elements of style, the u.
The items can be any type of grammatical unit, such as nouns, verbs, participles, infinitives, or subordinate clauses, to name a few. In writeshops copying and dictation exercises, lesson 5, theres a phrase im confused about. The comma in front of and cheese is optional, though whatever option you choose, keep choosing that option in any future series. Popular television shows, movies, books, even video games frequently come in the form of a series, often with three or more. My estate goes to my husband, son, daughterinlaw, and nephew. There are some general rules which you can apply when using the comma. Today paige and i are going to teach you all about your new best friend, the comma. The rules about using commas in a list of adjectives are far. In academic culture, we still use the serial or oxford comma, so even punctuation rules have a rhetorical context. A lot of people have strong feelings about putting a comma before and in a list. Comma rules, part 1 grammar 4 major comma rules youtube. In british english, it is quite unusual to use a comma with and.
In the lawyers book of rules for effective legal writing, thomas r. Using lots of adjectives enumeration of adjectives especially in creative writing, there is a need to use several adjectives. One use of the comma is to separate three or more words, phrases. This article is about commas with quotation marks enjoy your reading. Comma song comma usage and comma rules new grammarsongs melissa. Learn the most important rules to keep in mind when using commas to separate adjectives. While some authorities say that the comma before the conjunction is optional, leaving it out may cause confusion, so it is better to include it. Commas before and in a series grammar and punctuation. In english grammar, a series is a list of three or more items words, phrases, or clauses, usually arranged in parallel form. This is a strong opinion but most authorities recommend using this comma. Teaching commas can be overwhelming if you have no where to start. If you have a set of descriptions, you probably have a set of commas also.
Jan 21, 2010 sometimes we get grammar questions in the writeshop mailbag. Mistakes in legal grammar rules can change entire rulings, like with oakhurst dairy. A comma separates elements in a sentence, such as items in a list or series, but it also shows that those elements are connected to each other within the same sentence. Comma before the final item in a list we use commas to separate items in a series or list.
Complete contents glossary grammar contents copyright19972006 english. Use commas to separate words and word groups in a simple series of three or more items. The item in a series recognize an item in a series when you see one. The comma before the and makes it easier for the reader to identify the last list item. Quotation marks are used for components, such as chapter titles in a book, individual episodes of a tv series, songs from a broadway show or a music album, titles of articles or essays in print or online, and shorter works such as short stories and poems.
Cleo and her band will be playing at dockside diner next friday. Without a serial comma, you cant be sure whether the last recipe is a combination of peanut butter and chocolate chip or a combination of chocolate chip and coconut. Commas in a series use commas to separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses in a series. In the examples above, the oxford comma is the comma between eat breakfast and and rush out the door.
Aug 16, 2012 great tool for student engagement, memorization skills, and another way to look at informational text. How to separate a list of descriptions with commas dummies. Please see rules 5 and 6 of commas, as well as our post commas with appositives for a complete explanation. Be sure never to add an extra comma between the final adjective and the noun itself or to use commas with noncoordinate adjectives. The last two items in a list are usually connected by and.
Some essays look as though the student loaded a shotgun with commas and blasted away. Grammarquizzes more writing aids punctuation commas series. Because commas have many different uses, and those uses can differ from style guide to style guide, comma rules can be difficult to pin down. Grammarlys writing assistant can help you make sure your punctuation, spelling, and grammar. These are the comma rules most students encounter, and as always, i tell students that grammar lessons are not absolute. Comma rules grammar ninja commas w a series in a list grammar. How is it determined when commas are needed or not needed between adjectives in a series. Semicolons separating elements in a series this article is about semicolons separating elements in a series enjoy your reading. We at welcome secretary pompeos focus on proper grammar and punctuation, and we welcome him to our unofficial society of grammar nerds. Commas must also be used to coordinate adjectives, set off quotations, link dependent clauses to dependent clauses, and separate words in common conventions. When elements in a series are long and complex or involve internal punctuation, they should be separated by semicolons for the sake of clarity.
Correct comma usage can be hard to learn, but once it is learned, writing becomes both easier and better. Bright, fresh lemon flavor has a comma between the adjectives bright and fresh, but not between the adjectives fresh and lemon. Use a comma to separate the elements in a series three or more things, including the last two. The rules for this post apply to sentences containing three or more items in a series. Use commas to separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses. Use commas to separate two or more coordinate adjectives that describe the same noun. Here, we offer a brief, basic guide to using commas correctly. Commas are used to separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses in a series. Today, im sharing my grammar lesson plan for commas with you. For example, a list of three countries might be punctuated either as france, italy and spain without the serial comma or france, italy, and spain with the.
Newspapers and magazines do not generally use this rule as print space is too valuable to use on what might be considered extraneous punctuation. Use a pair of commas in the middle of a sentence to set off clauses, phrases, and words that are not essential to the meaning of the sentence. Use commas to separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses written in a series. Commas in a series sentence is a new skill in the common core standards for grade. Commas always follow these clauses at the start of a sentence. This means that when three or more items are being listed in a sentence, a comma goes between each item in the list. Cleo, and her band will be playing at dockside diner next friday. My estate goes to my husband, son, daughter in law, and nephew. Always use commas to separate the elements of a series. Commas in a series use commas to separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses in a series a conjunction goes between the last two items of the series while some authorities say that the comma before the conjunction is optional, leaving it out may cause confusion, so it is better to include it. If youve ever heard someone arguing about serial commas or oxford commas, this is what they were talking about. This 7slide powerpoint presentation show is sure to liven up your commas in a series notes and practice. With the conventional and misguided advice that one should add a comma wherever the reader should pause, its not. Commas provide clarity, particularly in sentences that contain several different elements.
Give your child extra practice with this punctuation worksheet. The oxford comma is the comma between the last two elements in a series. There are lots of rules about comma usage, and often the factors that determine whether you should use one are quite subtle. Comma rules state that commas must be used to separate items in a series, set off nonessential information or introductory clauses, and link independent clauses to independent clauses.
The most important rules for using commas without looking. We should study the report on discrimination in the workplace, which was written by the personnel office. You should even place a comma between the last two, although some writing style guidelines now omit this comma. Mar 07, 2020 teaching commas can be overwhelming if you have no where to start. Always use commas to separate the elements of a series of three or more things, particularly the last two. Quotation marks punctuation rules grammar and punctuation. Haggard says, the serial comma is essential in legal writing because it promotes clarity 17. This pack includes ten worksheets to reinforce the first grade common core standards for comma usage.
Commas in a series worksheet teachers pay teachers. The current trend for commas in a series,is for a second comma to be added before the and. You may have learned that the comma before the and is unnecessary, which is fine if youre in control of things. Many different things come in the form of a series. Jan, 2018 in english grammar, a series is a list of three or more items words, phrases, or clauses, usually arranged in parallel form. This grammar lesson offers an explanation on the correct use of commas and gives examples of commas used in sentences. When considering grammar and legal translation risks are even higher. However, you will find that in english there are many other ways to use the comma to add to the meaning of a sentence or to emphasise an item, point, or meaning. By the way, this rule only applies to lists of three or more items. Comma rules explained when it comes to punctuation, knowing when, and when not to, use commas in writing is the biggest problem most writers face.
A conjunction goes between the last two items of the series. In english you can use series commas when you list items. Exactly why this particular quirk of comma usage stirs such passions is hard to say. If a dependent clause ends the sentence, however, it no longer requires a comma. Many teachers divide sections of how to teach commas. The proper place for the comma is before the conjunction. Comma before and that joins two independent clauses the word and is a conjunction, and when a conjunction joins two independent clauses, you should use a comma with it. Grammarlys writing assistant can help you make sure your punctuation, spelling, and. In some circles, such as business communications and book publishing, the serial. Commas in a series sentence is a new skill in the common core standards for 1st grade. Included in this article are rules about the oxford comma, using a comma between two adjectives, and more. The comma is an extremely powerful piece of punctuation. Using commas a summary our big commas test using semicolons in lists using semicolons in lists commas after a sentence introductions commas after a transitional phrase commas after interjections yes, no, indeed commas before conjunctions and, or, but commas for parenthesis commas with a long subject commas with numbers commas with.
Commas dont just signify pauses in a sentence precise rules govern when to use this. Writers frequently wonder whether a comma should go before the conjunction and in a list of three or more items. In english language punctuation, a serial comma, or series comma also called an oxford comma or harvard comma, is a comma placed immediately before the coordinating conjunction usually and or or in a series of three or more terms. How to use commas in a series of items grammar lessons. The materials in this packet address the skills needed for success. The company has offices in greensboro, north carolina. He hit the ball, dropped the bat, and ran to first base.
Comma between two nouns in a compound subject or object. John went to the store to buy bananas, cherries, milk, and cheese. Use a comma to separate items in a series three or more things. In american english usage, many writers and editors feel that a comma should precede and with three or more items in a series. The items can be any type of grammatical unit, such as nouns, verbs, participles, infinitives, or subordinate clauses, to name a. Try not to use a comma unless you can apply a specific rule from this page to do so. Of all the punctuation marks in english, this one is perhaps the most abused and misused. Commas in a series list slideshow grammar ninja rules. Use one comma before to indicate the beginning of the pause and one at the end to indicate the end of the pause. Printing office, mla, harvard style manuals, and the oxford style manual i would like a pastrami, cheese, peanut butter, and jelly sandwich. However, print publications will use the final comma before and if it is needed to avoid confusion.
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