grammar list of items with commas

More examples. Definition: 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. Too many commas: they only need using when joining individual clauses or to separate items in a list. While introducing a person. When Microsoft Word featured bulleted and numbered lists, that changed everything! Use commas to separate words and word groups in a simple series of three or more items. It can separate clauses, it can separate items in a list, it can . For example: The recipe calls for milk, eggs, butter, flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Commas customarily indicate a brief pause; they're not as final as periods. Click on the images to view, download, or print them. One classic example that is often quoted is, to my parents, Ayn Rand, and God. Binding: Paperback Language: english. Using the comma in the right place in a sentence can help to make or break the meaning of the sentence. Missing punctuation: look for full stops at paragraph ends; commas after an introductory clause ('Since we launched in 1995,'); unclosed parentheses (brackets and hyphens) and quotation marks. When we have a list of three or more items, we use a comma to split the items in the list. Note that some style guides would not add the comma after the word "eggs". Where commas are used examples? Use commas to separate words and word groups in a simple list of three or more terms. ; Commas should be used before and when joining two independent clauses or when compiling a list. Like the rule for joining sentences, the comma goes right before the conjunction. Put a comma after introductory words, phrases, and clauses. If the list or series is introduced by such expressions as namely, for instance, for example, or that is, do . My parents, who met each other in 1962, have been married for 50 years. Lists belong principally to instructional works. Commas in a Series. Read the sentences and add in the commas to separate the list items. To draw additional . (See listing .) When elements in a series are long and complex or involve internal punctuation, they should be separated by semicolons for the sake of clarity: Semicolons Instead of Commas We reviewed this rule when we discussed the serial-comma rule in the discussion on the comma above. 4. Oxford comma. If the elements of the list are single words or phrases, capitalization and punctuation marks (including commas) are optional. First, it is used in a list when three or more words, phrases or even complete sentences are joined by the word and or or; we might call this construction an X, Y and Z list : Main Comma Before And Takeaways: A comma is a form of punctuation that indicates a pause in a sentence and separates items in a list. Nonrestrictive (nonessential clauses . We hope you find it useful. Listing items in a sentence Commas can also be used to separate three or more items in a list. According to Grammar Monster, An Oxford Comma is a comma used before the last list item in a list of three or more items. The items in a list are usually arranged in parallel form and separated by commas (or semicolons if the items themselves contain commas). $5.00. Add a comment. 0. The objective (or accusative) forms of English pronouns are me, us, you, him, her, it, them, whom, and whomever . ; Commas can separate adjectives, offset nonessential phrases, and introduce direct quotations. If the items in a list are complete sentences, each item needs an endmark. So we're not going to cover all of that in this video. For example: apples, pears, and bananas (When there are more than two list items, commas are used to separate them.) Example: My estate goes to my husband, son, daughter-in-law, and nephew. This time there are five descriptions of the word monster: four, sniffling, smelly, pimple-tongued, frizzy-haired. I like rice, beans, and plantains. Lists may also be used as a discovery or prewriting strategy. (Both 1-2 and 2-3 are coordinate.) But you don't need a comma when you're simply listing two items. On Monday we'll see the Eiffel Tower, and on Tuesday we'll visit the Louvre. Few more examples - The mystery of the lost pencil has to be solved by Jim's sister, Jane. This comma is known as a listing comma, e.g. Form the idea. Rick said, "I'm never going to give you up or let you down." If the quote is at the beginning of a sentence, place the comma just before the closing quotation mark. Rule #1: Use Commas to Separate Items in a List. On the other hand, they are not the most elegant way of writing and too many of them. Items in the series may consist of a word, clause, or phrase. Sometimes it's referred to as the Oxford comma or the Harvard comma. Just place a comma between each item (and an appropriate punctuation mark at the end). Use the Oxford or serial comma before the last item in a list to clarify the list. As we see, the main instances where commas are necessary when referring to someone in a phrase are: Where the sentence is focusing on a particular person. The semicolon looks like a comma with a period above it, and this can be a good way to remember what it does. Punctuation for Lists of Items Within a Sentence. Vertical Lists Vertical lists are a different matter. The first is with lists whose penultimate items are composites (paired items), such that two conjunctions appear towards the end of the sentence. Now look closely at Jill's answer. Use the colon to introduce a list or a series: The committee's study focused on the most critical areas: development of software, needed changes in computer systems, and recruitment of new engineers. The comma before the word and in a list of three or more things is the Oxford comma. Some people use the serial comma diligently. Use commas to separate items in a list. 2. Here are the two most common uses of the semicolon: 1. It is one of the most important punctuating marks in the English language. A comma is used to indicate a list of separate items/words and to separate phrases and clauses that are not in continuation. A List. "I'm never going to give you up or let you down," Rick said. 7. The sentence above contains two independent clauses, so it requires a comma before and. Colon and Comma You can also use a colon before you introduce the list's items. apples and pears (There is no comma with two list items.) One use of the comma is to separate three or more . It's the superhero of a piece of punctuation. I ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner. My girlfriend is creative, charming, cute, and bright. Yes, because it eliminates confusion in a sentence. This last commathe one between the word "and" and the preceding wordis often called the serial comma or the Oxford comma. Sketch the concept. If the each line item in the list logically ends what comes before the colon, or if each line item is a complete sentence, place an end mark after each (not commas or semicolons); otherwise, use nothing. While the colon is simply two dots stacked : the semicolon is a dot hovering over a comma ; The semicolon does jobs that are also done by other punctuation marks, but puts its own spin on the task. If you pay attention to little things like punctuation marks, you'll notice that writers are split on this one. Grammar: Lists. When a subject or object is made up of two items and the second item is parenthetical, you can set off the second item with commasone before it and one after it. Use a comma to separate coordinate adjectives ( We enjoyed the warm, sunny weather ). appositive. Choose your formatting based on the. It's also called the Serial comma. The Serial Comma The comma used before the conjunction in a list of three or more items is called a serial comma. The 1) relentless, 2) powerful 3) summer sun beat down on them. Capitalize and punctuate your list correctly and consistently. In business writing and technical writing, lists are commonly arranged vertically, with each item preceded by a number or a bullet . Commas set off parenthetical elements such as an appositive, which is a noun phrase or clause that renames or describes the noun directly beside it, and nonrestrictive relative clauses: The Washington monument, a massive obelisk, was completed in 1884. It occurs in two slightly different circumstances. If each element of a numbered or bulleted list is a complete sentence, capitalize the first word and place a period at the end. Use semi-colons after each item in a list if one or more items already includes a comma. ; Oxford commas are also known as serial or Harvard commas. Rule 1. Free shipping. Don't mix and match. The second thing is the clarity of the sentence. - Michael Harvey. Do not use a comma to separate just two items in a list. As previously stated, no comma follows frizzy-haired because you shouldn't put a comma between the last description and the word . A comma should be used to separate numbers in dates, to separate geographic regions, and to separate items in a list. Random House Webster's Handy Grammar, Usage, and Punctuation, Second Edit - GOOD. Nurses monitor a patient's vital signs including temperature, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and pulse. How Commas Separate Prepositional Phrases in Lists Prepositional phrases consist of a preposition, object, and words that modify the object. Random House Webster's Pocket Grammar, Usage, and Punctuation: Second Edition. Whenever your list has three or more words, you must use a comma after each word except the last one. 5. Like a period or colon, it often marks the end of . Sponsored. Use a list to provide a set of instructions or to make key points clear to your readers. Included in the case conference were . Items in a list should have the same grammatical structure all nouns, all sentences, all adjectives, and so forth. 3. Take a look at this sentence: Roxy had three choices for lunch, which were pizza, grubs, and salamander. The first thing is the style you are writing in (Chicago, MLA, APA or Oxford style), which varies depending on the type of document that you are writing. Commas and periods are the most frequently used punctuation marks. This chart from Grammar Girl Presents the Ultimate Writing Guide for Students gives examples of the 15 most common ways to use a comma. can be daunting and counterproductive. , Or writers included list items in text, separated by commas or semicolons. The 1) relentless, 2) powerful, 3) oppressive sun beat down on them. Title: Skills Builders Grammar and Punctuation Year 6 Pupil Book ne Item Condition: used item in a very good condition. Edition: 2nd Revised edition List Price: -. There's an issue though. We ordered pasta and wine. Use of namely, that is, etc. Like a comma, it can separate elements in a series. Commas-List 3 or More Items The three items in the list may be words, phrases, or clauses. The most important thing to remember about the comma is what it does is separate sentence elements. The Three Musketeers were Arthos, Porthos and Aramis. If the introduction is a complete thought or if it concludes with the following, a colon should appear at the end of the introduction. This is a list of verbs, all in the same tense, separated by commas: "I hesitated, stopped, waited." The above is correct, but there is nothing wrong with using different tenses: "I love, have loved, will love." This is a subject and verb followed by clauses: "I love to eat, to sleep, to dream." $3.59. Read the sentences and add in the commas to separate the list items. a serial comma - we are back with new outlets in three places. 4. Here are the steps for building a robot: 1. A comma is a mark showing the separation of different elements within the sentence. Build and program the model. There are many rules for using commas in a series. Before the word-processor, writers used outlines, in which prioritized list-items were separated by roman numerals, letters, and numbers. Most lists are simple lists, in which commas (or semicolons in the case of lists in which items contain commas) are used between items, including before the final item (see more information and examples on the lettered lists page). Oct 18, 2020 at 15:06. Use commas to separate words and word groups in a simple series of three or more items. Create a 3D rendering using computer-aided design (CAD). Here's an example: The cake mix requires flour, sugar, eggs, and butter. These are often categorized as an enclosed punctuation mark because most commas are only used inside the closing part of the sentence. Book Details. . Full Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLALQuK1NDrhq44LEu1DyBEJdGXR7JUne--Watch more Grammar Lessons videos: http://www.howcast.com/videos/515. The semicolon is the colon's quirkier sibling. It's this super-useful multi-tool. Not everyone follows the same format. In many cases, this will make the sentence more concise and make the items of the list more apparent. serial comma. We ordered pasta, and wine. The Oxford comma Slightly more authoritatively, the very perpetrators of the thing, Oxford University, say: The presence or lack of a comma before and or or in a list of three or more items is the subject of much debate. It bears repeating, however. I ate breakfast, lunch, dinner, and two snacks. This said, there are two circumstances in which the serial comma avoids rather than creates ambiguity. This avoids confusion. Objective Case. Using Commas in Lists Commas are used to separate list items when there are more than two list items. "If you begin each item with a lowercase letter, put a semicolon at the end of each item, use and after the next-to-last item, and put a period after the last item." Garner calls this "vertical lists punctuated as a sentence." This is where the semicolon confusion comes in. Using a comma between all the items in a series, including the last two, avoids this problem. an exclamation or aside. The colors of the French flag symbolizes nobility (blue), clergy (white), and . The proper place for the comma is before the conjunction. the comma after "and" in a list of three or more items/people; synonym of the Oxford comma. Below are some series comma rules, and, for each rule, some comma in a. A comma should be placed between each of the three items (it is also acceptable to leave out the comma between the second-to-last item and the last item in the series). Commas are used to connect the items in a list, except for the last two which are usually connected by a coordinating conjunction like and or or.. My favorite writers are Charles Dickens, Emily Bronte and Jane Austen. Comma between two verbs in a compound predicate A commonly cited example is - An Oxford (Harvard, serial) comma is used after the penultimate item in a list of three or more items. This probably the first use of commas you learned in school: separating items in a list of three or more things. Note: in our answers we generally have not included the comma immediately before "and" or "or" (the so called Oxford comma or serial comma), though it is completely acceptable to do so. Commas should be used when three or more items in a series are listed. I like rice and beans and plantains. Where the clause before/after the name is not essential. Use a comma near the end of a sentence to separate contrasted coordinate elements or to indicate a distinct pause or shift. Perhaps no mark of punctuation ruffles feathers more than the serial comma (also called series comma, Oxford comma, and Harvard comma).This comma precedes the final item in a list or series, before the word and or or.With the exception of newspapers, most publications use the serial comma, because it helps writers avoid ambiguity. A list of two words does not need a comma. The punctuation mark comma (,) has the following uses.. To connect the items in a list. The elements of a list stand out from the rest of the text, unlike sentences in a paragraph. Each item in the list below is a complete sentence, so it must have an appropriate end mark of punctuation. The case or function of a pronoun when it is the direct or indirect object of a verb or verbal, the object of a preposition, the subject of an infinitive, or an appositive to an object. Comma Worksheets. Read the sentences and add in the commas to separate the list items. In newspaper writing, incidentally, you will seldom find a serial comma, but that is not necessarily a sign that it should . The Listing Comma The listing comma is used as a kind of substitute for the word and, or sometimes for or. Punctuation and grammar. Unless there is another reason for a comma, a list of only two items or phrases does NOT take a comma before "and" or "or." A list written in a paragraph should have a comma after each item (except the period after the last). Use commas in a list of three or more words to help your reader understand they are separate from one another. Seller collects sales tax for items shipped to the following states: State Sales Tax Rate * Tax applies to subtotal + shipping & handling for . A semicolon creates more separation between thoughts than a comma does but less than a period does. A comma is never used as an end mark, and it is read with a shorter pause than an end mark. Serial Commas. Example: My estate goes to my husband, son, daughter-in-law, and nephew.Note: 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. They have the advantage of presenting information methodically and concisely and are useful to. a word or phrase that renames a nearby noun or pronoun. There are commas after sniffling, smelly, and pimple-tongued. The word and is a conjunction, and when a conjunction joins two independent clauses, you should use a comma with it. Listing commas can usually be replaced by "and" or "or," e.g. If the number or order of elements is important, use numbers; otherwise, use bullets. For example, all items might be nouns or all items might be phrases that begin with a verb. How to get the last item of a list? The last item is usually joined by a conjunction like and, or, or nor. Shade the bubble to show whether a comma or a full stop is . EF Education First - Educational Tours & Language Programs Abroad Get last item of a list by indexing As the indexing in a list starts from 0th index. Listing commas can separate lists of nouns, verbs, adjectives, dependent . a noun used to speak directly to some person or object. Or did it? If you are writing in a style that does not normally require . Writers use it to separate the last item in a list to avoid uncertainty or misunderstandings. 4) Commas and Quotation Marks Use a comma before the quotation marks if a quote is at the end of a sentence. Whether or not you need a comma before "and" in a list depends on two things. interjection. Commas with Two List Items When there are two items in a list, don't use a comma to separate the list items (unless it helps your reader). A comma separates words, not letters. Develop the prototype. Some of the items represent style choices instead of rules, such as how to use a comma in a list, but when you're making a simple list, you have to make choices! Remember, placing a comma correctly will elevate your writing. To help separate items in a list, when some of those items already contain commas. The items in your lists are not separated by "Oxford" commas. Rule 1. In general, use semicolons in lists to separate phrases that contain commas. Read the sentences and add in the commas where they belong. I ate breakfast and lunch. Use commas after each item in a list of three or more items. Here is a collection of our printable worksheets for topic Commas: Items in a Series of chapter Conventions of Standard English in section Grammar.. A brief description of the worksheets is on each of the worksheet widgets. the comma after "and" in a list of three or more items/people . The comma has a bunch of different functions. (1-2 are coordinate; 2-3 are non-coordinate.) readers who might need to consult them more than once. Some writers don't put a comma after the item in a list that comes just before and: Commas & lists Using commas to separate series of items In these worksheets, students add commas to sentences to separate series of 3 or more items. Must have an appropriate end mark, and pimple-tongued, respiratory rate, punctuation! Bubble to show whether a comma after introductory words, you must use a after A semicolon creates more separation between thoughts than a comma should be as. Sister, Jane except the last item is usually joined by a conjunction like and, or.! A list to avoid uncertainty or misunderstandings end ): //grammarpartyblog.com/2011/12/05/making-a-list-checking-it-twice-for-colons-commas-and-semicolons/ '' > Making a list should have the grammatical!, serial ) comma is known as a discovery or prewriting strategy full! 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