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What are the uses of commas?

Updated: 8/23/2023
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βˆ™ 13y ago

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Commas are used in several ways to set off elements in a sentence, including:

1) to separate nouns, as items in a list

I took salad, bread, and tomatoes to the potluck dinner.

2) to separate two or more adjectives

The small, round watermelons are perfect for a refrigerator.

3) to join two independent clauses with the use of a conjunction

I took salad and bread to the party, and I also brought an apple pie.

4) to set off a nonrestrictive clause, phrase, or appositive (before and after)

The bread, which had been edible yesterday, was now hard and stale.

5) to set off a phrase or clause that precedes the main clause

Before going to bed, he made sure that the cat was outside.

6) to separate contrasting elements

He discovered that he was Irish, not Scottish.

7) to set off quotations

He said, "I'll be back tomorrow."

8) between elements of addresses and dates

On May 21, 1927, Charles Lindbergh landed in Paris, France.

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βˆ™ 8y ago
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βˆ™ 12y ago

not like this:

i went, walking and i saw things such as a bird a dinosaur and a parachute!

like this:

i went walking and i saw things such as, a bird, a dinosaur, and a parachute!

also like this:

the cold, dusty locker was tinted in a goldish brown.

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βˆ™ 11y ago

1)Use a comma to separate the elements in a series (three or more things), including the last two. "He hit the ball, dropped his stumps,and ran away

2)Use a comma+a little conjunction (and, but, for, nor, yet, or, so) to connect two independent clauses, as in "He hit the ball well, but he ran toward third base."

3)Use a comma to set off introductory elements

4)Use a comma to set off parenthetical elements, as in "The Founders Bridge, which spans the Connecticut River, is falling down." By "parenthetical element," we mean a part of a sentence that can be removed without changing the essential meaning of that sentence. The parenthetical element is sometimes called "added information."

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βˆ™ 11y ago

Instances where commas should not be used include joining two complete sentences; complete sentences should be joined with semicolons.

An example of incorrect use would be:

"Instances where commas should not be used include joining two complete sentences, complete sentences should be joined with semicolons."

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βˆ™ 13y ago

For making a short hesitaition during a sentence.

Ex- I have science, math and reading homework

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βˆ™ 14y ago

When you pause or list something.

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