Commas, Ellipses, and Dashes
Commas- The first step in using commas is to use them whenever you are words or word groups in a simple series of three or more items.
Ex. I gave a present to my mom, dad, and sister.
The second step to using commas is to separate two interchangeable adjectives.
Ex. He is a nice, generous man. or He is a generous, nice man.
The third step in using commas is to not create a comma splice, or a run-on. You have to put the comma at the end of the first clause.
Ex. He went to the bank, He deposited some money. -----------------> He went to the bank. He deposited some money. or He went to the bank, and deposited some money.
Whenever you include a name, separate it off.
Ex. The bank manager, Bob, gave me a lollipop.
Ellipses- Ellipses are a set of three periods at the end of a sentence. Ellipses are mainly used for omitting things out of sentences. If something at the end of the sentence is being omitted, there will be a period and 3 dots, with no space in between.
Ex. I was supposed to... It doesn't matter now.
Dashes- A dash sets off parenthetical elements especially when those elements contain internal forms of punctuation. Sometimes, the dash shows a break in thought or a shift in tone. It sometimes sets off concluding lists and explanations more abruptly and informally than a colon.
Ex. "How many times have I asked you not to —" Jason suddenly stopped talking and looked out the window.
"Not to do what?" I prompted.
"Not to — Oh heck, I forget!"
Ex. Professors ______ and ______ were suspended without pay for their refusal to grade papers.
http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/commas.asp------------ Go to for more info on commas.
http://www.thepunctuationguide.com/ellipses.html---------------------- Go to for more information on ellipses- http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/ellipsis.htm--------------------- Ellipses
Examples and definition of dashes from http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/dash.htm
Ex. I gave a present to my mom, dad, and sister.
The second step to using commas is to separate two interchangeable adjectives.
Ex. He is a nice, generous man. or He is a generous, nice man.
The third step in using commas is to not create a comma splice, or a run-on. You have to put the comma at the end of the first clause.
Ex. He went to the bank, He deposited some money. -----------------> He went to the bank. He deposited some money. or He went to the bank, and deposited some money.
Whenever you include a name, separate it off.
Ex. The bank manager, Bob, gave me a lollipop.
Ellipses- Ellipses are a set of three periods at the end of a sentence. Ellipses are mainly used for omitting things out of sentences. If something at the end of the sentence is being omitted, there will be a period and 3 dots, with no space in between.
Ex. I was supposed to... It doesn't matter now.
Dashes- A dash sets off parenthetical elements especially when those elements contain internal forms of punctuation. Sometimes, the dash shows a break in thought or a shift in tone. It sometimes sets off concluding lists and explanations more abruptly and informally than a colon.
Ex. "How many times have I asked you not to —" Jason suddenly stopped talking and looked out the window.
"Not to do what?" I prompted.
"Not to — Oh heck, I forget!"
Ex. Professors ______ and ______ were suspended without pay for their refusal to grade papers.
http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/commas.asp------------ Go to for more info on commas.
http://www.thepunctuationguide.com/ellipses.html---------------------- Go to for more information on ellipses- http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/ellipsis.htm--------------------- Ellipses
Examples and definition of dashes from http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/dash.htm