How To Use Commas For Dummies

The comma in front of the word and is optional.

How to use commas for dummies. Albert got used to the blue spots but. Before conjunctions when combining two complete sentences with a conjunction place a comma before the conjunction. You need commas between each item on the list with one important exception. When albert saw the food his tummy started to rumble. In a compound sentence use a comma before a coordinating conjunction to separate two complete sentences.

Do you want eggs bacon and toast or pancakes fruit and sausage. Learn about commas. Comma rules are the subject of much confusion and even heated debate such as whether or not to use the oxford comma. Pack an extra swimsuit a towel sunglasses sunscreen three bottles of water lip balm and an umbrella. In lists place commas between items in a list but not before the first item.

Learning how to use commas correctly will make your writing clearer easier to read and more professional looking. We use them to separate three or more items in a series. Commas are mostly used. Just remember the word fanboys. Usually commas surround a non essential clause or phrase.

Commas can be used to break up sentences that have more than one clause and make them easier to read. When the last comma in a series is placed before and or or it is known as the serial comma or oxford comma. But if you want to throw an extra comma there you re welcome to do so. Of course that could also be used acceptably in british english which makes it safer by default to follow the american rule when in doubt. A third option for the last example would be to rewrite it to.

Not all writers use this. For example the duck that attacked me scared my friend doesn t require any commas. Comma usage cheat sheet. In direct address use commas to separate the name from the rest of the sentence. Even though the phrase that attacked me describes.