grammar list of items with commas

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