Why isn't there a comma between October and 5th ? I mean David tells us that its incorrect to put a comma , but I am asking Why ? Why shouldn't there be a comma ? What makes it incorrect ? Don't they show different things like Month and Date ? I'm only guessing that since you don't pause when saying this , because its only natural , you don't put a comma

You're right there! We *don't* pause when we say this. But, we put commas to *avoid confusion*. In *Tuesday, October 5th*, there's a comma because _Tuesday_ and _October_ are words. And while we say it, we pause there. But *October 5th* doesn't need this because they are different: a number and a word. So, no confusion. Hope this helped and if I'm mistaken, please let me know. :)

Does mastering commas in time and space make you a time wizard too?

Hey, Astrella! Yes, it does! David and Paige just forgot to mention such.

Do you need to put a comma in this sentence? Mix the sugar(,) and flour, which has the salt in it. This is the first time me hearing a fullstop be called a period, is there a difference?

You don't need a comma if you have a list consisting of less than two things: "Mix the sugar and flour, which has the salt in it"-✔️ "Mix the sugar, and flour, which has the salt in it"-❌ When the list contains more than two things, you do have to place at least one comma somewhere: "I grabbed my pencil, eraser, and ruler"-✔️ "I grabbed my pencil eraser and ruler"-❌ There's no difference between a full stop and a period; some people just like to call it one or the other.

Nero Wolfe is a mood. Does anyone actually like to talk on the phone?

Only when people have bad breath.

Would like to see more examples on where the commas go, in a long sentence. I tend to just write and not use commas because I don't know where they go. Thanks

I guess my question is this: what does a long sentence look like? What's it made of? It might help to watch this one: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/grammar/syntax/syntax/v/run-ons-and-comma-splices-syntax-khan-academy

Where else can you put a comma?

Whenever your sentence needs to be "paused".....As long as the comma you want to use has something on both the left and right.....

At 2:26 Paige did not put a comma between October and the 5th why is that?

Hi Gwenivere! Good question. I'd say in this case the rules of grammar follow the way that people would speak this sentence aloud in English. If someone asked me for the date, I would say "It's October 5th," with no pause between "October" and "5th." It seems to me there's a more natural pause between other elements, such as "Tuesday, October 5th, 2016." These are three separate pieces of information that come together to form the date. But we don't really pause to say something like "October, the 5th day." All that information comes to us at once. Let me know if that makes sense or if you have other questions!

It is kind of confusing because, It's not like you can comma between every word. And I am thinking like where should I put the commas?

Yes. It can be confusing. I suggest this. Think of the idea you would like to express. Speak that idea out loud. Repeat it three times. Notice where you pause as you speak to make yourself more clearly understood. Write the words you have spoken without punctuating. Then go back and put commas wherever you paused, and a full stop at the end. See if that doesn't help.

bring Paige back you're more tamed

Paige left of her own accord, in September of 2016, when she was 19 years old. She's all grown up now.

Main content

Course: Grammar > Unit 6

Lesson 2: Commas in space and time

Commas in space and time

Name: Commas in space and time
Uploaded: 2016-06-06T23:42:42Z
Description: Learn how to use commas when writing addresses (in space) and dates (in time).

Google Classroom

Learn how to use commas when writing addresses (in space) and dates (in time).

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Reeda Rashid
Posted 7 years ago. Direct link to Reeda Rashid's post “Why isn't there a comma b...”
Why isn't there a comma between October and 5th ? I mean David tells us that its incorrect to put a comma , but I am asking Why ? Why shouldn't there be a comma ? What makes it incorrect ? Don't they show different things like Month and Date ? I'm only guessing that since you don't pause when saying this , because its only natural , you don't put a comma
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(17 votes)
Answer
- Isabella Mathews
  Posted 7 years ago. Direct link to Isabella Mathews's post “You're right there! We *d...”
  You're right there! We don't pause when we say this.
  But, we put commas to avoid confusion. In Tuesday, October 5th, there's a comma because Tuesday and October are words. And while we say it, we pause there. But October 5th doesn't need this because they are different: a number and a word. So, no confusion.
  Hope this helped and if I'm mistaken, please let me know. :)
  Comment on Isabella Mathews's post “You're right there! We *d...”
  (44 votes)
Maya Malia
Posted 7 years ago. Direct link to Maya Malia's post “Do you need to put a comm...”
Do you need to put a comma in this sentence?

Mix the sugar(,) and flour, which has the salt in it.

This is the first time me hearing a fullstop be called a period, is there a difference?
Button navigates to signup pageComment on Maya Malia's post “Do you need to put a comm...”
(11 votes)
Answer
- M Rambo
  Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to M Rambo's post “You don't need a comma if...”
  You don't need a comma if you have a list consisting of less than two things:
  
  "Mix the sugar and flour, which has the salt in it"-✔️
  
  "Mix the sugar, and flour, which has the salt in it"-❌
  
  When the list contains more than two things, you do have to place at least one comma somewhere:
  
  "I grabbed my pencil, eraser, and ruler"-✔️
  
  "I grabbed my pencil eraser and ruler"-❌
  
  There's no difference between a full stop and a period; some people just like to call it one or the other.
  Comment on M Rambo's post “You don't need a comma if...”
  (22 votes)
Astrellea
Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to Astrellea's post “Does mastering commas in ...”
Does mastering commas in time and space make you a time wizard too?
Button navigates to signup pageComment on Astrellea's post “Does mastering commas in ...”
(12 votes)
Answer
- Chelsea Flynn ✎
  Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to Chelsea Flynn ✎'s post “Hey, Astrella! Yes, it do...”
  Hey, Astrella! Yes, it does! David and Paige just forgot to mention such.
  Button navigates to signup page
  (8 votes)
Norma Torres
Posted 8 years ago. Direct link to Norma Torres's post “Would like to see more ex...”
Would like to see more examples on where the commas go, in a long sentence. I tend to just write and not use commas because I don't know where they go. Thanks
Button navigates to signup pageComment on Norma Torres's post “Would like to see more ex...”
(5 votes)
Answer
- David Rheinstrom
  Posted 8 years ago. Direct link to David Rheinstrom's post “I guess my question is th...”
  I guess my question is this: what does a long sentence look like? What's it made of?
  
  It might help to watch this one:
  https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/grammar/syntax/syntax/v/run-ons-and-comma-splices-syntax-khan-academy
  Comment on David Rheinstrom's post “I guess my question is th...”
  (15 votes)
Gwenivere Roden
Posted 7 years ago. Direct link to Gwenivere Roden's post “At 2:26 Paige did not put...”
At
2:26
Paige did not put a comma between October and the 5th why is that?
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(4 votes)
Answer
- Rosie Friedland
  Posted 7 years ago. Direct link to Rosie Friedland's post “Hi Gwenivere! Good questi...”
  Hi Gwenivere! Good question. I'd say in this case the rules of grammar follow the way that people would speak this sentence aloud in English. If someone asked me for the date, I would say "It's October 5th," with no pause between "October" and "5th." It seems to me there's a more natural pause between other elements, such as "Tuesday, October 5th, 2016." These are three separate pieces of information that come together to form the date. But we don't really pause to say something like "October, the 5th day." All that information comes to us at once. Let me know if that makes sense or if you have other questions!
  Comment on Rosie Friedland's post “Hi Gwenivere! Good questi...”
  (12 votes)
MASONW
Posted 7 months ago. Direct link to MASONW's post “david should be president”
david should be president
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(9 votes)
Answer
- romeo/ops
  Posted 3 months ago. Direct link to romeo/ops's post “yes, but not right now”
  yes, but not right now
  Button navigates to signup page
  (1 vote)
Tech Programmer
Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to Tech Programmer's post “It is kind of confusing b...”
It is kind of confusing because, It's not like you can comma between every word. And I am thinking like where should I put the commas?
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(4 votes)
Answer
- David Alexander
  Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to David Alexander's post “Yes. It can be confusing....”
  Yes. It can be confusing.
  I suggest this.
  
  Think of the idea you would like to express.
  Speak that idea out loud.
  Repeat it three times.
  Notice where you pause as you speak to make yourself more clearly understood.
  Write the words you have spoken without punctuating. Then go back and put commas wherever you paused, and a full stop at the end.
  See if that doesn't help.
  Button navigates to signup page
  (9 votes)
waffles.exe
Posted 8 years ago. Direct link to waffles.exe's post “Where else can you put a ...”
Where else can you put a comma?
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(5 votes)
Answer
- Davide Ghazal
  Posted 8 years ago. Direct link to Davide Ghazal's post “Whenever your sentence ne...”
  Whenever your sentence needs to be "paused".....As long as the comma you want to use has something on both the left and right.....
  Comment on Davide Ghazal's post “Whenever your sentence ne...”
  (6 votes)
Esrella
Posted 10 months ago. Direct link to Esrella's post “Nero Wolfe is a mood. Doe...”
Nero Wolfe is a mood. Does anyone actually like to talk on the phone?
Button navigates to signup pageComment on Esrella's post “Nero Wolfe is a mood. Doe...”
(6 votes)
Answer
- John Funches
  Posted 10 months ago. Direct link to John Funches's post “Only when people have bad...”
  Only when people have bad breath.
  Comment on John Funches's post “Only when people have bad...”
  (3 votes)
terrykperdue29416
Posted 5 months ago. Direct link to terrykperdue29416's post “bring Paige back you're m...”
bring Paige back you're more tamed
Button navigates to signup pageComment on terrykperdue29416's post “bring Paige back you're m...”
(4 votes)
Answer
- David Alexander
  Posted 5 months ago. Direct link to David Alexander's post “Paige left of her own acc...”
  Paige left of her own accord, in September of 2016, when she was 19 years old. She's all grown up now.
  Button navigates to signup page
  (4 votes)

Video transcript

- [Voiceover] Hello, grammarians! Hello, Paige! - [Voiceover] Hi, David. So today we're gonna be talking about commas in space and time because commas have basically one function, which is-- - [Voiceover] Separating parts of sentences. - [Voiceover] Separating parts of sentences. And what's neat is that we can use commas to separate stuff out in space and separate stuff out in time. So I'm gonna handle space; Paige is gonna do time. It's gonna be sweet. So first of all, one way in which you can use commas to separate space is by talking about addresses, people's physical addresses in space. So the fictitious private detective, Nero Wolfe, one of my very favorites, is supposed to live at 454 West 35th Street in New York. So if I wanted to write Mister Wolfe a letter, and I would write him a letter because he hates talking on the phone, I would address it like so, separating all elements of his address with commas. So Nero Wolfe, comma, 454 West 35th Street, comma, New York City, or just New York, comma, New York. And then I would put the zip code, which I think is 10001, but I'm not sure if they had zip codes when those stories took place, but it doesn't matter. You separate out all of these elements with commas. And this isn't just for writing addresses; this is for referring to any point in space on the Planet. So if I wanted to tell you the name of my favorite city on the Planet, I would say: "Ouagadougou", comma, "Burkina Faso." Real place. I've never been there. I would like to go someday. And that is how you use commas in space. Paige, how are commas used in time? - [Voiceover] So commas are used in dates. - [Voiceover] OK. - [Voiceover] So, I could say: on Tuesday, comma, October fifth, comma, 2010, comma, I ate a cricket. So, as you can see, we've separated the day of the week from the day of the month, October fifth, from the year, 2010, and then separated all that from the rest of the sentence: I ate a cricket. - [Voiceover] Because all of this is like a prepositional phrase that is modifying the word ate. - [Voiceover] True. - [Voiceover] So we wanna make sure that all of it is separated out from the rest of the sentence; and we separate it out using our friend, the comma. - [Voiceover] Of course. - [Voiceover] So if you want to express a kind of complicated relationship in time or in space, you wanna make sure a letter gets to a very specific place, you wanna talk about a very specific city in a very specific country, you use commas. You wanna talk about a very specific time, you use commas. That's commas in space and time, my grammarians. You can learn anything. David out. - [Voiceover] Paige out.