IXL | Commas with series, dates, and places

Correct the text by inserting two commas. (Note: in this skill, serial commas are not optional.)

In January 2014, students at Luther College in Decorah Iowa discovered a cardboard box containing nine papyrus documents from ancient Egypt.

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Learn with an example

question

Correct the text by inserting two commas. (Note: in this skill, serial commas are not optional.)

Grab your shoes cap and gown and camera; we're late for the graduation ceremony!

key idea

Use commas to separate three or more items in a series. Put a comma after each item in the list, except for the last one. The last comma in the list (right before the coordinating conjunction) is called an Oxford comma or serial comma. The serial comma is sometimes considered optional, but most style guides demand it.

Red, white, and blue are the colors of the American flag.

Expressions that consist of pairs of words, such as "thunder and lightning" and "bread and butter," are generally treated as single items.

College costs typically include tuition, room and board, and textbooks.

In dates with a day and a year, use a comma after the day. Also use a comma after the year unless the date ends the sentence.

January 1, 2001, was the first day of this century.

Mahatma Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869.

When the name of a city is used with the name of its state or country, use a comma after the city. Also use a comma after the state or country unless it ends the sentence.

Chicago, Illinois, is known as the Windy City.

We've just booked our flight to Athens, Greece.

solution

The sentence lists three items in a series. Use commas after the first two items.

Grab your shoes, cap and gown, and camera; we're late for the graduation ceremony!

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Not feeling ready yet? These can help:

TT.1Commas with a series

TT.2Commas with dates and places

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