How To Use Commas For Dummies

Learning how to use commas correctly will make your writing clearer easier to read and more professional looking.

How to use commas for dummies. Pack an extra swimsuit a towel sunglasses sunscreen three bottles of water lip balm and an umbrella. Before conjunctions when combining two complete sentences with a conjunction place a comma before the conjunction. It also makes it easier to decide whether to insert commas because if you follow the american rules you can remember that commas should not precede that but they should precede which. Not all writers use this. In a compound sentence use a comma before a coordinating conjunction to separate two complete sentences.

Usually commas surround a non essential clause or phrase. Commas are mostly used. Learn about commas. 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. Comma usage cheat sheet.

When the last comma in a series is placed before and or or it is known as the serial comma or oxford comma. Because when you say and you ve already separated the last two items. Even though the phrase that attacked me describes. When listing items in succession. Comma usage cheat sheet.

You need commas between each item on the list with one important exception. Never put a comma in front of the first item on the list. Albert got used to the blue spots but. But if you want to throw an extra comma there you re welcome to do so. We use them to separate three or more items in a series.

Comma rules are the subject of much confusion and even heated debate such as whether or not to use the oxford comma. The comma in front of the word and is optional. Commas can be used to break up sentences that have more than one clause and make them easier to read. Just remember the word fanboys. When albert saw the food his tummy started to rumble.