Comma Use
- Use commas to separate independent clauses when they are joined by any of these seven coordinating conjunctions: and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet.
- Use commas after introductory a) clauses, b) phrases, or c) words that come before the main clause.
Can you use commas in APA?
between elements (including before and and or) in a series of three or more items. to set off a nonessential or nonrestrictive clause, that is, a clause that embellishes a sentence but if removed would leave the grammatical structure and meaning of the sentence intact.
How do you use commas in APA 7th edition?
Use commas to separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses written in a series. Use commas to separate two or more coordinate adjectives that describe the same noun. Be sure never to add an extra comma between the final adjective and the noun itself or to use commas with non-coordinate adjectives.
Do you put a comma before and in a list APA?
When listing three or more items, include a serial comma (also known as an Oxford comma) before the last item and the conjunction “and” or “or.” If one or more clauses contains commas in them, use a semicolon instead of a comma to separate the clauses.
How do you use punctuation in APA?
Place commas, periods, exclamation marks, and question marks inside quotation marks; all other punctuation marks are placed outside quotation marks. Use double quotation marks when: Providing direct quotations of less than forty words (for quotes with more than forty words, use block quotations).
Do you put a comma after an in text citation APA?
About In-Text Citation
Brief in-text citations point the reader to more complete information in the reference list at the end of the paper. In-text citations include the last name of the author followed by a comma and the publication year enclosed in parentheses: (Smith, 2007).
What are the 8 rules for commas?
Commas (Eight Basic Uses)
- Use a comma to separate independent clauses.
- Use a comma after an introductory clause or phrase.
- Use a comma between all items in a series.
- Use commas to set off nonrestrictive clauses.
- Use a comma to set off appositives.
- Use a comma to indicate direct address.
- Use commas to set off direct quotations.
How do you use punctuation in your in text citation under APA 7th edition?
Make sure the source information in parentheses matches with your reference in the reference list. The punctuation for the sentence goes AFTER the parentheses. For a quote less than forty words put quotation marks around the quoted words.
What is the APA format for 7th edition?
Basic Elements of APA 7 Style
- Title page (also known as a cover page).
- Font options: sans serif fonts such as 11-point Calibri, 11-point Arial, or 10-point Lucida Sans Unicode.
- Double-spaced.
- References page always starts on a new page.
- Page numbers.
- Margins.
- Citations and reference list.
Do you need a comma before a quote APA?
When to Use a Comma. As a general rule, you should use a comma to introduce quoted material or dialogue. That’s because in most types of dialogue, the quoted material stands apart from the surrounding text.
How do you punctuate a list with commas?
The Right Way to Punctuate Lists
- a comma or no punctuation for lists that do not contain the main verb.
- a full stop after each sentence for lists that contain at least one item with multiple sentences.
- a semicolon otherwise.
Where do you put commas in a list of names?
When you have a list of nouns in a sentence, you should put a comma after each noun except the last one, and sometimes the second to last one, with a space after each comma but not before.
How do you put a comma between items in a list?
Commas with More Than Two List Items. If there are more than two list items, those following US convention should use a comma before the conjunction (usually “and” or “or”).
Why is APA punctuation important?
Punctuation establishes the cadence of a sentence, telling readers where to pause (comma, semicolon, and colon), stop (period and question mark), or take a detour (dash, parentheses, and square brackets).
What should you not use in APA?
APA writing style needs to be formal. Avoid using slang words and avoid contractions, such as ‘don’t’, ‘won’t’, couldn’t. ‘ Whilst APA is trying to move towards a more personal style, that does not mean informality, as if you were writing a friendly e-mail.
Does APA have Oxford comma?
APA uses the serial (or Oxford) comma in lists of three or more items (i.e., Groucho, Harpo, and Zeppo).
Does comma go before or after in text citation?
Commas always come before a quotation mark when you are directly quoting another person’s speech, text, or thoughts. They also always come before quotation marks when using them to indicate dialogue in a written text.
Do commas go inside quotes in citations?
Put commas and periods within quotation marks, except when a parenthetical reference follows. He said, “I may forget your name, but I never forget a face.” History is stained with blood spilled in the name of “civilization.”
How do you cite a whole paragraph in APA 7?
When paraphrasing or summarising using one source over several sentences or even a whole paragraph, cite the source in the first sentence. There is no need to cite the work again in this paragraph provided it is clear that this is the only source being paraphrased.
Where should a comma be placed in this sentence?
Use commas after introductory a) clauses, b) phrases, or c) words that come before the main clause. Example: In the beginning, there was light. Use a pair of commas in the middle of a sentence to set off clauses, phrases, and words that are not essential to the meaning of the sentence.
When should a comma not be used?
9. Don’t use commas when you are ending a sentence with an exclamation point or question mark.