Punctuation is sub-category of Grammar

Note:

  • punctuation is used to set rules for recreating in writing human speech
    • such as hard pauses (periods, semicolons, colons, dashes and parentheses) and soft pauses (commas)
  • however, punctuation enables writing to go beyond verbal communication for complex expression and meaning

See:

[category: Grammar] [category: Language Arts] [category: SAT Verbal]]

comma

  • used to create a pause
  • uses of commas
    • lists
    • joining phrases
    • separating ideas
    • parenthetical or brackets

for lists

  • = separates nouns, verbs and series of clauses
  • the serial comma = comma following the 2nd to last word in a list and before the conjunction:
    • ex.: "one, two, or three bananas"
      • known as the "Oxford comma"
      • = the British convention (rule or typical use) is to place a comma after the 2nd to last word in a list
    • vs.: "one, two or three bananas"
      • both forms are correct
      • generally, American usage is to use the "serial comma" that comes before the conjunction

as conjunction for combining independent clauses

as conjunction for combining dependent and independent clauses

for pauses after introductory or subordinate phrases

for separating ideas or gaps

for parenthetical phrases or brackets