Term
| Use commas to set off parenthetical expressions. |
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Definition
| Ex] The president said, of course, that he was deeply disappointed. |
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Term
| Use commas to seperate two or more adjectives preceding a noun. |
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Definition
| Ex] Jack Russell terriers are small,energetic dogs. |
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Term
| Use commas to set off nonessential participial phrases and nonessential subordinate clauses. |
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Definition
| Ex] The turtle, crossing the street slowly, was in danger. |
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Term
| Use a comma after an introductory phrase or clause. |
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Definition
| Ex] In the darkening attic room, the girls searched for the box of old photos. |
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Term
| Use a comma after the salutation of a personal letter and after the closing of any letter. |
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Definition
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Term
| Use commas to seperate items in dates and addresses. |
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Definition
| Ex] It opened on July 4, 1986. |
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Term
| Use commas to set off words of direct address. |
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Definition
| Ex] I'd like to go now, Rosa. |
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Term
| Use a comma to set off a mild exclamation such as well, on, or why at the beginning of a sentence. Other introductory words, such as yes and no, are also set off with commas. |
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Definition
Ex] Well, I think we should ask for help.
Yes, I understand. |
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Term
| Use commas to set off an expression that interrupts a sentence. |
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Definition
Ex] Mr. Agoya, born and raised in Mexico, moved to Califronia at the age of twenty-four.
The applications, by the way, were mailed three days ago. |
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Term
| Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction (and, but, for, nor, or, so, yet) when it joins independent clauses in a compound sentence. |
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Definition
Ex] I enjoyed The King and I, but Oklahoma! is still my favorite musical.
Oscar Hammersteing wrote the words, and Richard Rodgers wrote the music. |
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Term
| Use commas to set off nonessential appositives and nonessential appositive phrases. |
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Definition
Ex] My best friend, Nancy, is studying ballet.
THe Rio Grande, one of the major rivers of North America, forms the border between Texas and Mexico. |
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Term
Use commas in certain conventional situations.
1) Use commas to seperate items in dates and addresses. |
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Definition
Ex] The United States officially observed Martin Luter King, Jr., Day for the first time on January 20, 1986.
Each year the Kentucky Derby is held in Louisville, Kentucky, on the first Saturday in May.
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Term
| Use commas to seperate items in a series. |
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Definition
| Ex] Barbecue, hammock, canoe, and moccasin are four of the words that the English language owes to American Indians. |
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