How To Use Commas List
Commas can separate adjectives offset nonessential phrases and introduce direct quotations.
How to use commas list. Whether or not you put a comma before and depends on how you re using and there s no single rule that applies to all situations. Period question mark exclamation point comma semicolon colon dash hyphen parentheses brackets braces. When writing a list you should put a comma between each item except for the last item where you use and. You usually put a comma before and when it s connecting two independent clauses. While there s some degree of flexibility in how commas are used it s important to have a clear grasp of the rules.
In that case you would not place a comma before the and that joins the final two items. There are some cases where you know you should use a comma such as when separating items in a list but there are other times when you might be unsure whether or not a comma is needed. I need to go to the supermarket to buy eggs milk bread sugar and. Place a comma between each item in the list unless you are writing in associated press style. Punctuation is used to separate the items in the list.
With two list items don t use a comma. Commas should be used before and when joining two independent clauses or when compiling a list. A lot of people have strong feelings about putting a comma before and in a list. It s almost always optional to put a comma before and in a list. Use commas when writing a list of at least three words phrases or clauses in a sentence.
How to use punctuation in lists. The 14 most commonly used punctuation marks are. A comma is a form of punctuation that indicates a pause in a sentence and separates items in a list. Oxford commas are also known as serial or harvard commas. The school has a vegetable garden in which the children grow cabbages onions potatoes and carrots.
The usual way of doing this is to place a comma after each item in the list. My estate goes to my husband son daughter in law and nephew. Commas can be a particularly tricky punctuation mark. Punctuation has two main roles to play in the presentation of lists of items. To separate the items in a list.