USING COMMAS IN A SERIES
You and I had been using “comma” a million times already! Am I right? However, we need to be reminded too of the proper use of comma/commas in a series. Unlike semicolons, commas are used to put related elements in a sentence. The elements can be just set words, phrases, or clauses. They could be sequential or not. Same as a semicolon, it indicates pause/break between parts.
- Series of Words in a sentence
Examples:
I want to be like Superman, Batman, or Spiderman.
This morning, I ate spaghetti, pizza, and carrots.
You should bring paper, a pencil, and an eraser.
To gain protein in your body, you should eat, eggs, rice, and wheat.
- Series of Phrases in a sentence
Examples:
When I travel to Europe, I will eat pizza in Italy, take pictures in front of the Eiffel Tower, and star-gazing at Switzerland.
The cow ate under the tree, near the highway, and over the bush.
The cat chased the puppy in the backyard, inside the house, and in my room.
- Series of Clauses in a sentence
I don’t know if I will go to the party later because I will clean my apartment, however, I will go if you will go.
A cat loves eating fish, and it also loves playing with a yarn ball, but I don’t have a cat at home.
The horse is galloping, and it is jumping over the hills, however, it doesn’t hop like a kangaroo.
Here are some tips for constructing a sentence using commas:
- Know the subject of your sentence.
- List all the elements – phrases, objects, names, or clauses that you are going to use.
- Make sure the elements are related to each other.
- Put the comma in the appropriate position in the sentence.
- Commas and semicolons are not totally the same.
Using commas in a sentence is not that complicated ever!
