Using the oxford comma is a stylistic choice, but you have to make a decision and stick with it for your whole essay. At we prefer to use it because we are more interested in clear communication than saving one space. The panda produces a badly punctuated wildlife manual and tosses it over his shoulder. Includes commas in dates, commas in lists, commas in dialogue, and commas in general writing. If you know how sentences are structured, then it is easy to understand how punctuation helps writers negotiate their expressions. The more examples you practice on, the more the missing commas will pop off the page at you. Our rule 1 of commas recommends, to avoid confusion, use commas to separate words and word groups with a series of three or more. Comma worksheetthe major uses of the comma rules for writers, p. On this third grade reading and writing worksheet, kids learn about common and proper nouns, then write a proper noun to go with each common noun. Although the beavers were expected to win they choked on saturday night. Shared possessives possession is shared by more than one noun take an apostrophe and s on the last noun only, unless the nouns do not share. Free 8th grade grammar worksheets teachers pay teachers. That depends on whether youre for or against the oxford comma perhaps the most hotly contested punctuation mark of all time.
Family and friends 2nd edition worksheet level 1, unit 1 pdf 477 kb 2nd edition level 1. Karaoke singalong, stories, phonics and fun downloadables get the most out of family and friends. This is a worksheet designed for high school students to practice grammar and writing skills. While a comma often denotes a pause, it may also clarify the meaning of words, as in coordinating adjectives.
Ten multiplechoice questions in the style of the sat writing exam quiz students on their knowledge of common grammar errors like comma splices, dangling modifiers, the. She told her mother louisa that she wanted to be the first in the family to get a college degree which would also help her get a good job. In the summer, catherine enjoyed swimming, biking, and exploring the woods with her friends. We are having peas and carrots roast beef and cake for dinner. The oxford comma, whod have thunk it would be at the center of a great debate. The oxford comma is a special kind of comma that comes before the last item in a list, before the word and or or. Standard english follows the oxford comma rule that places a comma before and in the list. This final comma is called a serial or oxford comma, because it used to be standard in british english but not in american english.
Some teachers and instructors like to use the oxford comma which means that a comma will be used between and and the last word in the. All remaining worksheets for levels 14 will be made available between now and end december 20. Comma rules i can use punctuatio n comma, ellipsis, dash to indicate a pause or break l2a. Using commas to separate a long introductory phrase from the main clause. Having been told of the test john wondered when he would study. The oxford comma is at the center of what is possibly the most significant.
Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction and, but, yet, so, or nor, for when it. Comma worksheets printable punctuation activities k12 reader. This resource will show you the basics about proper punctuation. However, the omission of the oxford comma can sometimes lead to misunderstandings. Ap stylethe style guide that newspaper reporters adhere todoes not require the use of the oxford comma. The last comma in that sentence above is an oxford comma, also known as the serial comma or the harvard comma. Theres quite an extensive explanation of the ins and outs of the oxford or serial comma here youll notice that the writer of the article says that a serial comma or series comma also called oxford comma and harvard comma is a comma placed immediately before the coordinating conjunction usually and, or, or nor in a series of three or.
The transcript may be a verbatim record of everything thats been said, including instances of stutter and filler words, or it can be slightly edited and cleaned out of utterances. An independent clause is a group of words with a subject and verb that expresses a complete thought. Indiana tech writing center commas worksheet here are some general guidelines and rules to help you become familiar with, confident, and comfortable using commas. Also known as the serial comma, this pesky piece of punctuation premiers as the star of a short video that investigates the question to use, or not to. Ten multiplechoice questions in the style of the sat writing exam quiz students on their knowledge of common grammar errors like comma splices, dangling modifiers, the oxford comma, misspellings, and more. Answer key commas to separate items in a series use commas to separate two or more items or phrases in a series. The oxford comma and when commas are used in a series are.
If a plural noun does not end in s, add an apostrophe and s. They will add correct capitalization and punctuation. Use a comma before and, but, or, nor, for, so, or yet to join two independent clauses that form a compound sentence. In the heat of a summer afternoon our air conditioner stopped. Join the oxford comma debate, and practice using commas in lists, with this worksheet about comma usage. An oxford comma, also known as a serial comma, is the comma that precedes the conjunction before the final item in a list of three or more items. The comma worksheets below are free for you to print and use at home or in the classroom. Its name is always pretentious, and its purpose is always the same. Ap stylethe style guide that newspaper reporters adhere to. Students will need to use the index and grid references to locate cities or countries.
The little old lady, the cop and i all went down to the precinct. Use an oxford comma or it can be referred to as theserial comma, to clarify list items that are more than one. An independent clause is a group of words with a subject and verb that expresses a. Students in grades one to seven will cover seventeen different comma rules encountered in everyday written communication. Oxford comma in word 2016 isnt as good office watch. This handout is adapted from andrea lunsfords the everyday writer with exercises, 5th ed. Use an oxford comma or it can be referred to as theserial comma, to clarify list items that are. Dec 09, 2015 an oxford comma, also known as a serial comma, is the comma that precedes the conjunction before the final item in a list of three or more items. Oxford south african concise dictionary, oxford south african pocket dictionary, the.
List of three or moreoxford commayou will put commas to separate each itemword in a list of three or more. Students will need to use the index and grid references to locate. The state standards indicate students should know how to use a comma, an ellipsis, and a dash in their writing. Get to know one of our favorite pieces of punctuation. Comma worksheets and activities ereading worksheets. I need to call sally tom brad and kelly about the party. Morton my english teacher says we have to learn how to use commas. This free lesson is a basic worksheet that tests the knowledge of comma placement to students learning or relearning grammar. In this maps worksheet, students use the oxford first atlas to answer 20 questions about cities in great britain. Our commas worksheets are free to download and easy to access in pdf format. This is a level one worksheet with an answer key included that can test the knowledge of any student.
Where do you place a comma in a coordinate conjunction. The oxford comma is also known as serial comma, series comma, harvard comma etc. Use of the oxford comma is stylistic, meaning that some style guides demand its use while others dont. A comma marks a slight break between different parts of a sentence. The following guidelines, condensed mostly from the chicago. Oxford comma minilesson by reading and writing haven tpt. Comma exercises using commas to separate a long introductory phrase from the main clause. In this worksheet, students will rewrite four sentences. The comma allows for a brief pause between separate parts of a sentence, a basic purpose that becomes more obvious if you read a passage aloud. Most newspapers and magazines drop the oxford comma in a simple series. Comma worksheets and activities learning to use commas and other punctuation with confidence requires a basic understanding of sentence structure. Learn how to use the comma, you will find the answer on the 2nd page of the pdf. Add or delete commas where necessary in the following sentences. Used properly, commas make the meaning of sentences clear by grouping and separating words, phrases, and clauses.
They will also place a comma after the word yes or no at the beginning of each sentence. The oxford or serial comma is the final comma in a list of things. If you add a comma to a sentence, write the number of the comma rule you are following next to the sentence. The final comma in a series, often called the serial comma or oxford comma. Wading into the cool lake we found relief from the heat. These clauses are separated by a comma before the conjunction but. Commas to separate items in a series superteacherworksheets.
Punctuation 3 punctuation when should you use a colon instead of a semicolon. When the last comma in a series comes before and or or, it is known as the oxford comma. Oxford south african concise dictionary, oxford south african pocket dictionary. But if you dont like the oxford comma, word 2016 has removed the option to warn when the extra comma is inserted. To get tickets for some broadway musicals one has to order three months in advance. My favorite sports are soccer, basketball, baseball, and tennis. Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction and, but, yet, so, or nor, for when it joins two complete ideas independent clauses. Click on the title to read the details about a worksheet or to download the pdf.
Use commas to set off introductory words, phrases, and clauses. In our rule 1 of commas, we explain why some writers include it and some do not. Learning where to use commas on this commas worksheet. This quiz will see if you can spot a correct usage and understand related terms. More on the oxford comma in microsoft word office watch. I can dribble a basketball, hit a baseball with a bat, and even kick a soccer ball into a net. Miami university is a great school but i wish oxford was a bigger town. The problems involved in this operation are i think numerous. These worksheets start out very basic and advanced as you move down the page. Sometimes, writers will drop the comma before the final conjunction in a series. In this maps worksheet, students use the oxford first atlas to answer 20 questions about. Despite that, word 2016s oxford comma check will prompt you to add it. The debate rages on regarding inclusion of the oxford, or serial, comma. After introduction wordsyou will typically use a comma whenever you use a introducing word or statement.
The quiz and worksheet help you see how much you know about rules and examples of using commas in a series. Youll notice that the writer of the article says that a serial comma or series comma also called oxford comma and harvard comma is a comma placed immediately before the coordinating conjunction usually and, or, or nor in a series of three or more terms. The oxford comma also known as a serial comma, the oxford comma is placed immediately before the conjunctionusually and, or, or norin a series of three or more terms. Word 2016 can only warn you if the oxford comma is not there good for people who prefer the comma required before last item. The oxford comma is extremely important and everyone. Celene who does not usually tell anyone what she feels said she didnt want to go to the dance. Get the perfect introduction to introductory clauses, phrases, and words with this commas worksheet.
Before a coordinating conjunction to join 2 independent clauses. Place commas wherever they are needed in the following sentences. In this case, the comma after biking but before and is optional. The oxford comma can be particularly helpful in a sentence where there is some ambiguity. I would like to share the below presentation with you for this weeks grammar tip. Use commas in place of conjunctions to separate elements in a list of three or more items. Style manual opinions on the oxford comma serial comma.
This final comma is called a serial or oxford comma, because it used to. The oxford comma is extremely important and everyone should be using it. In many cases, the additional comma doesnt make any difference to understanding a sentence. Free, printable comma worksheets to develop strong grammar, language and. With her mortarboard firmly on her head tammy, took her place in the graduation procession which was held on may 12 2009. So in answer to your question, the oxford comma is not restricted to and. Apr 02, 20 the last comma in a series before and or or is known as the oxford or series comma. The printable punctuation worksheets on this page can be used to teach students about using commas. A compound sentence is a sentence that has 2 independent clauses. Download all 11 click on a worksheet in the set below to see more info or download the pdf.
Kids will learn how to use the comma in lists, letters, and clauses. My three favorite foods are pasta pizza and ice cream. Add commas to the following sentences where needed. Punctuation worksheets help familiarize students with the appropriate uses. Comma usage abides by a distinct set of rules, and apostrophes can be a nightmare. This answer book may be used in conjunction with the. Find oxford comma lesson plans and teaching resources.
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