Grammar-Quizzes.com

 PRACTICE ON POINTS OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR

• Punctuation Sum
• Punc Diagnostic
• Apostrophes
• Bulleted Lists
• Capitals
• Colons
• Comma Uses
• Comma–series
• Comma–comments
• Dashes
• For example
• Hyphens
• Italics
• Parentheses
• Periods
• Quotation Marks
• Semicolons

• On this page:
• Elements in a Series
• Comma before "and"
• Word Play
• Common Mistakes
• Practice 1
• Practice 2

Commas Series

Punctuating elements in a series

 

 

Commas with elements listed in a series

TWO ELEMENTS	MORE THAN TWO ELEMENTS
Usually we use and to join similar elements: two verbs, two nouns, two adjectives, etc. It is important to make sure the words are like-word-forms (parallel word forms).	When listing more than two like-elements, use a comma to punctuate items in a series.  Placing a comma before and is optional.  See below.
VERBS The biathlon athlete skis and shoots.	VERBS A triathlete runs, bikes, and swims.
NOUNS The biathlon athlete uses skis and a gun.	NOUNS The athlete uses running shoes, a bicycle, and swim goggles.
ADJECTIVES The biathlon athlete is strong and focused.	ADJECTIVES A triathlete is strong, well-trained, and focused.
ADVERBS In order to win, he must shoot quickly and accurately.	ADVERBS In order to win, he must run swiftly, gracefully, and boldly.
PHRASES He must be able to outwit and to out-last the others.	PHRASES He is able to outwit, out-last and out-play the others.
CLAUSES The biathlon athlete is a person who knows his strengths and who keeps his focus.	CLAUSES She was a woman who knew her strengths, who knew how to use her wit, and who wasn't afraid to "stick her head out".

Related page: using commas to set of comments or clauses

 

 

Comma before "and"

COMMA BEFORE AND	NO COMMA BEFORE AND
Some writing style manuals recommend using a comma when a conjunction joins the last two elements of a series:  Chicago Manual of Style, Fowler's Modern English Usage, The Elements of Style, The U.S. Gov. Printing Office ,MLA, Harvard style manuals, and The Oxford Style Manual	Some writing style manuals recommend not using a comma when a conjunction joins the last two elements of a series unless it causes the meaning to become unclear:  Associated Press, The New York Times, The Times
I would like a pastrami, cheese, peanut butter, and jelly sandwich. Indicates one sandwich with four different ingredients.	I would like a pastrami, cheese, peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Indicates one sandwich with three or maybe four ingredients.
I would like a pastrami and cheese, and peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Indicates two sandwiches with two different ingredients.
I would like a pastrami, a cheese, a peanut butter, and a jelly sandwich. Indicates clearly four sandwiches with four different ingredients.  (Uses article - a.)
I would like to thank my brothers, Sarah, and Mary. (He thanks at least four people: two brothers and Sarah and Mary)	I would like to thank my brothers, Sarah and Mary. (He thanks his brothers whose names are Sarah and Mary!)

 

 

"The Oxford comma"

"Use commas in place of conjunctions to separate elements in a list of three or more items. The presence or lack of a comma before and or or in such a list has become the subject of much spirited debate. For a century it has been part of OUP to retain or impose this last serial (or series) comma consistently, to the extent that the convention has come to be called the "Oxford comma".…The last commas serves also to resolve ambiguity, particularly when any of the items are compound terms joined by a conjunction…" (Oxford Style Manual 121-2)

 

References for and against using commas before and or or. 

• AP Stylebook. The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law. 42nd ed. New York: Basic Books, 2007. Print. (Against – 32)
• "Extended Rules for Using Commas" #5. The Owl at Purdue. 2009. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/607/02/ (For )
• Huddleston, Rodney and Geoffrey K. Pullum. The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002. Print.  (1738–40)
• MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 7th ed. NewYork: Modern Language Association of America. 2009. Print.  (For –3.2.2.b)
• Sabin, William A. The Gregg Reference Manual:A manual of Style, Grammar, Usage, and Formatting. 11th ed. New York: McGraw–Hill, 2011. Print. (For –162 a.)
• Strunk, William, and E. B. White and Roger Angell. The Elements of Style. 4th ed.   Longman, 1999. Print.  (Bartleby.com  Link )  (For )
• The Chicago Manual of Style. 15th edition. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2003. Print.  (For – 6.19)
• Ritter, R. M.The Oxford Style Manual,Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003. Print. (For –  5.5.3)
• University of Oxford "Punctuation" (Against – Link)
• Wikipedia contributors. "Serial comma." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 1 Oct. 2011. Web. 4 Oct. 2011. Link 

 

 

Word Play— Noun or Verb?

TWO COMMAS	ONE COMMA	NO COMMAS
All three items are verbs	Second item is a noun.	Second and third items are nouns.
He kicks, rocks, and rolls.   He verb + verb + verb. rock(v.) = dancerock style	He kicks rocks, and rolls. He verb + noun + verb. (nonsense)   rock (n.) = stone	He kicks rocks and rolls.   He verb + noun + noun. (nonsense) rolls (n.) = bread
He waters, weeds, and plants. He verb + verb + verb. weed (v.) = remove ugly plants	He waters weeds and plants. He verb + noun + verb. (nonsense) weed (n.) = ugly plant	He waters weeds and plants. He verb + noun + noun.
He performs, flips, and spins. He verb + verb + verb. He does three activities.	He performs flips and spins. He verb + noun + verb. flip (n.) = 360 turn-over	He performs flips and spins. He verb + noun + noun.

nonsense (n.) – Something that is silly. 

 

 

 

 

Common Mistakes

ERROR	FIX
The appeal of Tesla's Model S lies in its sexy sports car design. (unclear use of modifiers)	The appeal of Tesla's Model S lies in its sexy, sports-car design. If sexy is a second modifier to design, use a comma. The appeal of Tesla's Model S lies in its sexy sports-car design. If sexy is a single modifier to sports-car, don't use a comma.
Punch mark or fill-in your ballot.  (unclear word form meaning)	Punch, mark, or fill-in your ballot!   A comma joins items in a row (same word forms) -- in this case three verbs.  Using a comma before or is optional.)

Pop-Q "Tesla"

 

 

 

Practice 1

Albert "Renaissance man"

 

 

Editing

1. Add commas and if necessary "and" to the sentences below.
2. Compare your response to the answer on the right.

 

#	YOUR RESPONSE	ANSWER
1.	As a teacher astronomer inventor father, Albert is frequently called a "Renaissance man"  ( a person with expertise in many fields). EDIT THIS: As a teacher astronomer inventor father, Albert is frequently called a "Renaissance manteacher, astronomer, inventor, and father.
2.	He adores his four children: Anna Haley Nina Milo. EDIT THIS: He adores his four children: Anna Haley Nina Milo.
3.	He loves spending the weekends with his children showing them the stars teaching them all he knows. EDIT THIS: He loves spending the weekends with his children showing them the stars teaching them all he knows.
4.	They often go on field trips visit planetariums and observatories look at the stars together. EDIT THIS: They often go on field trips visit planetariums and observatories look at the stars together.
5.	Albert has written astronomy books for children: "Astro Anna" "Haley's Comet" "Nina's Nine Planets""Milo, the Moon Mouse". EDIT THIS: Albert has written astronomy books for children: "Astro Anna" "Haley's Comet" "Nina's Nine Planets""Milo, the Moon Mouse".
6.	Albert likes to name the stories after his children because it amuses it honors it inspires them. EDIT THIS: Albert likes to name the stories after his children because it amuses it honors it inspires them.
7.	Albert teaches physics astronomy mathematics at a nearby university. EDIT THIS: Albert teaches physics astronomy mathematics at a nearby university.
8.	His students like his ability to explain complex things in simple ways to inspire their love of learning to listen to their ideas. EDIT THIS: His students like his ability to explain complex things in simple ways to inspire their love of learning to listen to their ideas.
9.	Last year, his students won first prize for the most creative innovative promising new inventions. EDIT THIS: Last year, his students won first prize for the most creative innovative promising new inventions.
10.	More than anything, Albert loves to spend his time sitting reading thinking. EDIT THIS: More than anything, Albert loves to spend his time sitting reading thinking.

 

 

 

 

Practice 2

Word Play — What does each person do?

 

 

Remember that punctuation can determine whether a word form is a verb or a noun.  One option will be logical.  The other option might be silly (nonsense). 

• Select a response from the list menu.
• Compare your option choice to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right.

 

#	YOUR RESPONSE  (OPTION)	CHECK YOUR ANSWER
11.	A playwright writes   - scripts and plays. , scripts, and plays. playwright (n.) – a writer of plays and dramas script (n.) – written text and dialog script (v.) – to write the text and dialog for a movie or play
12.	An event planner organizes   - parties and conferences , parties, and conferences .
13.	A military commander assigns   - names and numbers. , names, and numbers.
14.	An astronomer examines   - moons and stars. , moons, and stars.
15.	Santa answers - wishes and dreams. , wishes, and dreams.
16.	A child hopes    - wishes and dreams. , wishes, and dreams.
17.	A sign painter designs   - letters and installs. , letters, and installs.
18.	An accountant adds   - checks and bills. , checks, and bills. .
19.	A bird doctor checks   - ducks and bills. , ducks, and bills.
20.	A fashion photographer shoots   - smiles and winks. , smiles, and winks.
21.	A grocery store clerk checks   - bags and carts. , bags, and carts.
22.	A pet groomer sells   - combs, shampoos and brushes. , combs, shampoos, and brushes. pet groomer (n.) – person who washes and cuts the hair/fur of dogs and cats
13.	A jeweler fixes   - rings and watches. , rings, and watches.
24.	A masseuse massages   - elbows and knees. , elbows, and knees. a masseuse= person who gives therapy in the form of body rubs.
25.	A drunk or bully drinks   - pops and punches. , pops, and punches. pop (n.) = soft/soda drink; pop v. = hit;  bully = an aggressive cruel person