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Summary: Commas are used in sentences to create a pause, to clarify two separate clauses, to separate items in a series and to join multiple complete sentences. Use commas correctly with grammar help from a creative writing instructor in this free video on writing.
Heather Kamins has a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from Mills College in Oakland, Calif. She has taught and tutored English composition at Mills, as well as at the College of...read more
"Hi, I'm here to tell you about when to use a comma. Commas have a lot of different rules and functions within a sentence. But the basic function is to help guide a reader through the sentence. Sometimes they create a pause, although not always. And one thing that they do is, help you, the reader. Avoid confusion in a sentence. So for example, while I cooked Comma, my friend answered the phone. So that makes it clear that your friend is answering the phone. And not in, it's not reading like, While I cooked my friend. Another common use of commas is to separate items in a list or a series. So for example, The American flag is red, white and blue. So when you have three or more items in a series. To separate them with commas to pause between each one. Another thing that commas do is to help you join multiple complete sentences, into one sentence. A comma, plus what's known as a Coordinating Conjunction. So here, I flew home on Sunday. Is a complete sentence. As is, My sister stayed until Wednesday. But because those ideas are related. It makes sense to combine them into one sentence. With a comma and But. Which is the Coordinating Conjunction that helps join them together."
eHow Article: When to Use a Comma
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