How To Use Commas In A Sentence
We re going to eat albert.
How to use commas in a sentence. When an adverbial phrase begins a sentence it s often followed by a comma but it doesn t have to be especially if it s short. You need commas between each item on the list with one important exception. Use commas to separate words phrases or clauses that appear in a series of three or more because the storm had knocked out the electricity we spent the evening telling ghost stories on the porch. We re eating with albert. Adding a comma can change the meaning of a sentence.
But if you want to throw an extra comma there you re welcome to do so. Use a comma to separate the elements in a series three or more things including the last two. My estate goes to my husband son daughter in law and nephew. Don t use a comma before because as a general rule. Commas customarily indicate a brief pause.
You can also use a comma with a shorter phrase when you want to emphasize it or add a pause for literary effect. As a rule of thumb if the phrase is longer than about four words use the comma. Use commas to separate coordinate adjectives. Use commas to separate words and word groups in a simple series of three or more items. He hit the ball dropped the bat and ran to first base you may have learned that the comma before the and is unnecessary which is fine if you re in control of things.
The comma in front of the word and is optional. Because is a slightly different animal. Because when you say and you ve already separated the last two items. When you re describing something with two or more adjectives you can use a comma between them if those adjectives are coordinating. In a long sentence you can use commas to separate.
Its job is straightforward it introduces a clause of purpose a clause beginning with because answers the question why there s usually no comma before because. We use commas while combining multiple phrases in one sentence or writing about different items in a list. They re not as final as periods. They re also useful if you have several other commas in the sentence to help avoid confusion.