Commas
Add the comma:
I was born on July 30 1995
I was born July 30, 1995
Add a dash:
Jocelyn said, "But I"
Jocelyn said, "But I - "
Add parentheses:
Skippy the neighbor's dog always runs into our yard to pick up broken branches.
Skippy (the neighbor's dog) always runs into our yard to pick up broken branches.
Use this with a coordinating conjunction to join independent clauses in compound sentences.
Commas
Should you use commas, parentheses, or dashes in the following sentence?
I need to go to the store to get bread milk and eggs.
Commas
I need to go to the store to get bread, milk, and eggs.
Add a comma:
Yes I got a good grade on my test.
Yes, I got a good grade on my test.
Add dashes:
The protocol rules to be followed was to save such tricks only for a real dog fight.
The protocol - rules to be followed - was to save such tricks only for a real dog fight.
Add parentheses:
Jackie Smith 1845-1910 worked in the women's rights movement.
Jackie Smith (1845-1910) worked in the women's rights movement.
Used to signal an interruption, particularly in quotations.
Dashes
Should you use commas, parentheses, or dashes in the following sentence?
The new restaurant in town the one with the yellow sign out front was crowded Friday night.
Parenthesis
The new restaurant in town (the one with the yellow sign out front) was crowded Friday night.
Mrs. Turner Mrs. Faust Mrs. Tilley and Mrs. Easom know you can do well on this test.
Mrs. Turner, Mrs. Faust, Mrs. Tilley, and Mrs. Easom know you can do well on this test.
Add dashes:
I took Binky my favorite cat to the vet.
I took Binky - my favorite cat - to the vet.
Add parentheses:
The house at the end of the street the one I think is beautiful is for sale.
The house at the end of the street (the one I think is beautiful) is for sale.
They can be used after introductory clauses.
Commas
Should you use commas, parentheses, or dashes in the following sentence?
I told you I can't never mind.
Dash
I told you I can't - never mind.
First of all you have to study your notes over commas dashes and parentheses.
First of all, you have to study your notes over commas, dashes, and parentheses.
Add a dash:
What Phil said was true or so I thought.
What Phil said was true - or so I thought.
Add parentheses:
As you turn right, you will notice a large yellow house the one with a white picket fence and its remarkable front porch.
As you turn right, you will notice a large yellow house (the one with a white picket fence) and its remarkable front porch.
These add emphasis to the words contained within them.
Parentheses
Should you use commas, parentheses, or dashes in the following sentence?
The protocol rules to be followed was to save such tricks only for a real dog fight.
Dashes
The protocol - rules to be followed - was to save such tricks only for a real dog fight.
Even though ice cream is my favorite I decided to eat the chocolate cake.
Even though ice cream is my favorite, I decided to eat the chocolate cake.
Add dashes:
I would ask or insist that he bring balloons to the party.
I would ask - or insist - that he bring balloons to the party.
Add parentheses:
We still don't know our way around town we got here last month.
We still don't know our way around town (we got here last month).
They are used to provide information that might interrupt the normal flow of the sentence.
Parentheses
Should you use commas, parentheses, or dashes in the following sentence?
You will have to complete your work or you will not get to play basketball.
Commas
You will have to complete your work, or you will not get to play basketball.