comma

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'comma' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to punctuate a sentence or to highlight certain parts of a sentence. For example, "This sentence, however, does not have any commas."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Even by having a comma in the wrong place you risk losing marks".

The Guardian

My sister, Dee, and I had been worried that the chapter in which I write about her transition from male to female would attract sensationalistic interest but I've been so amused to discover that the comma is a far more controversial issue.

The Guardian - Books

She was very pedantic about the grammar – what was a comma and what was a full stop.

The Guardian

I used it as a gigantic comma.

The Guardian - Books

Consider putting a comma on either side of this appositive.I'm not sure how to take this advice.Grammarly's second suggestion is that I might want to avoid "couldn't", a contraction.

The Economist

Even the somewhat irritating absence of a comma in the title may have been meant to convey his constant rush from first light to dusk.

The Economist

Now, after years of examining the language of airlines, politicians and (of course) journalists and of considering controversial points of grammar, like the split infinitive, the comma splice and singular they Johnson is becoming a column once again.

The Economist

But I would rather spend this Fourth of July arguing about how to design liberal democratic institutions, and why liberal democratic governance is superior to monarchy, dictatorship, theocracy, illiberal democracy or anarchy, than arguing over whether a very smart but long-dead fellow named Thomas Jefferson thought liberty and governance were joined by a comma or separated by a period.

The Economist

Small wind farms are therefore proliferating.In this section The gambler Mind that comma Brown's fields No avoiding Mr Brown No arm in it In a pickle Tilting at windmills Grade expectations The shadow over Tony Blair Reprints Related items Offshore energy: I'll huff and I'll puffJul 17th 2003The hostility aroused by the Parham project is not unusual either.

The Economist

Here's a good example of how laypeople and linguists differ on grammar: OnlineSchools.com has created this handy infographic on the much-discussed punctuation mark known as the Oxford comma.To recap, the Oxford comma separates the last two items in a list, as in "red, white, and blue".

The Economist

But language scholars by and large think of punctuation (whether to use the Oxford comma; whether to put commas and full stops inside inverted commas or outside) as orthography or mechanics, not grammar.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use a "comma" to separate items in a list, ensuring clarity and avoiding ambiguity, especially when the items are complex or contain conjunctions.

Common error

Don't use a "comma" to join two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction. This error, known as a comma splice, can be corrected by using a semicolon, a conjunction, or by separating the clauses into two sentences.

Linguistic Context

The word "comma" primarily functions as a noun, referring to the punctuation mark used to separate elements in a sentence. As Ludwig AI points out, its proper use is crucial for clarity in writing. It can also refer to a musical interval or a butterfly species.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Encyclopedias

21%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "comma" is a common noun with various uses. It primarily refers to the punctuation mark, but also has meanings in music and zoology. As Ludwig AI's analysis confirms, it follows standard grammatical rules and is widely used. Proper usage of the "comma" is essential for clarity in writing, though debates around specific uses like the Oxford comma persist. The term appears frequently in news, encyclopedias, and scientific contexts, reflecting its broad relevance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

punctuation mark

Focuses on the direct function of the comma as a punctuation element.

pause in writing

Emphasizes the comma's role in creating a brief pause within a sentence.

syntonic comma

Refers to the musical definition of the comma.

separator

Highlights the comma's function of dividing elements within a list or sentence.

delimiter

Similar to 'separator', stressing the comma's function in clearly marking divisions.

comma splice

Indicates the incorrect use of the comma to join two independent clauses.

Oxford comma

Specifies a particular usage of the comma in lists.

serial comma

Another term for the Oxford comma.

phrase break indicator

Highlights the comma's function in structuring phrases within a text.

grammatical pause

Describes the general concept of a pause in a sentence indicated by a comma.

FAQs

How to use "comma" in a sentence?

A "comma" is typically used to separate elements in a list, introduce a clause, or set off nonessential information. For example: "Apples, bananas and oranges are my favorite fruits."

What is an "Oxford comma" and when should I use it?

The "Oxford comma", also known as the serial comma, is the final comma in a list of three or more items, placed before the coordinating conjunction (usually "and" or "or"). Its use is a matter of style, but it can often clarify meaning.

What's the difference between a "comma" and a "semicolon"?

A "comma" indicates a slight pause, while a "semicolon" connects two independent clauses that are closely related. A semicolon creates a stronger link than a comma but not as strong as a period.

When is it incorrect to use a "comma"?

It's incorrect to use a "comma" between the subject and verb of a main clause unless there is an interrupting phrase. Avoid comma splices, which occur when a comma is used to join two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction.