Comma
noun
A symbol (,) indicating a pause in a sentence or separating things in a list.
Please put a comma after each item in the list.
Often appears as...
- separate with a comma
- use a comma
noun
A distinctive marking on the wing of a butterfly or moth.
This butterfly is recognized by the white 'comma' on its underwings.
Often appears as...
- comma butterfly
- comma marking
Usage tips
Technical
noun
A small quantity of yeast used to start the fermentation process in making bread or beer.
Add the comma to the mixture, and it will start the fermentation process.
Often appears as...
- add the comma
- start with comma
Usage tips
Technical
noun
A symbol (,) indicating a pause in a sentence or separating things in a list.
Please put a comma after each item in the list.
Often appears as...
- separate with a comma
- use a comma
noun
A distinctive marking on the wing of a butterfly or moth.
This butterfly is recognized by the white 'comma' on its underwings.
Often appears as...
- comma butterfly
- comma marking
Usage tips
Technical
noun
A small quantity of yeast used to start the fermentation process in making bread or beer.
Add the comma to the mixture, and it will start the fermentation process.
Often appears as...
- add the comma
- start with comma
Usage tips
Technical
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3List Separator
Use commas to separate items in a list for clarity.
I packed apples, oranges, and bananas.
Pro Tip 2/3Natural Pause
In conversational English, a comma often represents where you would naturally pause.
She walked in, looked around, and smiled.
Pro Tip 3/3Avoiding Confusion
Commaseparate clauses to prevent misreading or confusion.
Let's eat, Grandma!
Pro Tip 1/3List Separator
Use commas to separate items in a list for clarity.
I packed apples, oranges, and bananas.
Pro Tip 2/3Natural Pause
In conversational English, a comma often represents where you would naturally pause.
She walked in, looked around, and smiled.
Pro Tip 3/3Avoiding Confusion
Commaseparate clauses to prevent misreading or confusion.
Let's eat, Grandma!
Pro Tip 1/3List Separator
Use commas to separate items in a list for clarity.
I packed apples, oranges, and bananas.
Pro Tip 2/3Natural Pause
In conversational English, a comma often represents where you would naturally pause.
She walked in, looked around, and smiled.
Pro Tip 3/3Avoiding Confusion
Commaseparate clauses to prevent misreading or confusion.
Let's eat, Grandma!
Never forget "Comma"
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Video examples
TED2016 in review PIPE...
I would put commas between our aim and then the copy editor woman to take know it has to be semicolons and then the design lady would say no it's gotta be slashes because that looks so much better and then we went through a party and that doctor little the science and personality guy would come over and we'd say there's about to be a party and he'd say no I'm an introvert I'm an introvert
Video examples
Face-to-Face with a Bear...
bears in these areas and this conflict is is coming up I don't like you using the word conflict I say in inverted commas just because I it's a quite a negative connotation but we're seeing it more and more right coexisting of humans and Wildlife is such a such a big thing but in terms of like the broader wider
Video examples
Grammar's great divide:...
showed up as well. Ultimately, the serial comma may be useful or annoying, but your opinion on it, as for many optional things, probably has something to do with whichever style you were raised on. Your high school teachers favored it? It's likely you're still using it.
Video examples
A new way to diagnose...
autism can be free from the devastating consequences the comma beta times the profound intellectual disabilities the lack of language the profound profound isolation we feel the individuals of autism in fact have a very special perspective on the world and we need
Video examples
It's time to question...
this cute little creature ended up slaughtering it and eating it afterwards i think they said it tastes like chicken this is a comma a comma is a camel llama hybrid created to try to get the heartiness of a camel with some of the personality traits of a
Video examples
Susan Blackmore: Memes...
So, think of it this way. Imagine a world full of brains and far more memes than can possibly find homes. The memes are all trying to get copied -- trying, in inverted commas -- i.e., that's the shorthand for, if they can get copied, they will.
Video examples
How to use a semicolon -...
It's stronger than a comma, and less final than a period. It fills the spaces in between, and for that reason, it has some specific and important tasks. For one, it can clarify ideas in a sentence that's already festooned with commas.
Video examples
Comma story - Terisa...
a simple law of physics, and some common scenarios, you will be able to use commas correctly. I like to think of the different parts of our sentence as characters. Let's meet a few of the tiny conjunctions, the mighty subordinates,
Video examples
Can we choose to fall...
she sent me that image. She said, "Dude A's dominance of your brain seems to essentially have been eradicated. I think this is the desired result," comma, yes, question mark.
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 15 PIPE...
unfortunate teams I'm having a bit of a problem with my irregular that someone was asking there's the Audion well they seemed a comma fraid I can't yeah the name but
Video examples
TED2016 in review PIPE...
I would put commas between our aim and then the copy editor woman to take know it has to be semicolons and then the design lady would say no it's gotta be slashes because that looks so much better and then we went through a party and that doctor little the science and personality guy would come over and we'd say there's about to be a party and he'd say no I'm an introvert I'm an introvert
Video examples
Face-to-Face with a Bear...
bears in these areas and this conflict is is coming up I don't like you using the word conflict I say in inverted commas just because I it's a quite a negative connotation but we're seeing it more and more right coexisting of humans and Wildlife is such a such a big thing but in terms of like the broader wider
Video examples
Grammar's great divide:...
showed up as well. Ultimately, the serial comma may be useful or annoying, but your opinion on it, as for many optional things, probably has something to do with whichever style you were raised on. Your high school teachers favored it? It's likely you're still using it.
Video examples
A new way to diagnose...
autism can be free from the devastating consequences the comma beta times the profound intellectual disabilities the lack of language the profound profound isolation we feel the individuals of autism in fact have a very special perspective on the world and we need
Video examples
It's time to question...
this cute little creature ended up slaughtering it and eating it afterwards i think they said it tastes like chicken this is a comma a comma is a camel llama hybrid created to try to get the heartiness of a camel with some of the personality traits of a
Video examples
Susan Blackmore: Memes...
So, think of it this way. Imagine a world full of brains and far more memes than can possibly find homes. The memes are all trying to get copied -- trying, in inverted commas -- i.e., that's the shorthand for, if they can get copied, they will.
Video examples
How to use a semicolon -...
It's stronger than a comma, and less final than a period. It fills the spaces in between, and for that reason, it has some specific and important tasks. For one, it can clarify ideas in a sentence that's already festooned with commas.
Video examples
Comma story - Terisa...
a simple law of physics, and some common scenarios, you will be able to use commas correctly. I like to think of the different parts of our sentence as characters. Let's meet a few of the tiny conjunctions, the mighty subordinates,
Video examples
Can we choose to fall...
she sent me that image. She said, "Dude A's dominance of your brain seems to essentially have been eradicated. I think this is the desired result," comma, yes, question mark.
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 15 PIPE...
unfortunate teams I'm having a bit of a problem with my irregular that someone was asking there's the Audion well they seemed a comma fraid I can't yeah the name but
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Charles McCarry
American Writer
I have to tell you, I'm a happy man. I've lived the life I wanted to live. I've written the books I wanted to write. No publisher has ever even suggested that I change so much as a phrase - commas and periods, yes - and I suspect that I have a lot of serious readers; in fact, I know.
Quote examples
Sue Perkins
English Comedian
I have slight attention-span issues, so I will often wander off, and then I will be alerted - in inverted commas - when the smoke alarm goes off. So that's how I work out if a bake is finished.
Quote examples
Pico Iyer
Indian Writer
To me, part of the beauty of a comma is that it offers a rest, like one in music: a break that gives the whole piece of music greater shape, deeper harmony. It allows us to catch our breath.
Quote examples
Kathy Burke
English Actress
In fact, I didn't realize I was 'unattractive' - in inverted commas - until I started acting. It was, 'Oh no, you're not right for the part - we're looking for a pretty girl.
Quote examples
Francine Prose
American Writer
If things are going well I can easily spend twelve hours a day writing, but not writing writing, just thinking and revising and taking a comma out and putting it back in.
Quote examples
Paulie Malignaggi
American Athlete
Hatton don't look much like a guy who thinks about commas. But he is a gentleman. His family are gentlemanly. Real classy people.
Quote examples
Ze Frank
American Comedian
A good procrastination should feel like you're inserting lots and lots of commas into the sentence of your life.
Quote examples
Mick Foley
American Actor
I leave my editor to put the periods and commas in.
Quote examples
Mark Helprin
American Novelist
I have been fighting over commas all my life.
Quote examples
Matthew McConaughey
American Actor
Life is a series of commas, not periods.
Quote examples
Charles McCarry
American Writer
I have to tell you, I'm a happy man. I've lived the life I wanted to live. I've written the books I wanted to write. No publisher has ever even suggested that I change so much as a phrase - commas and periods, yes - and I suspect that I have a lot of serious readers; in fact, I know.
Quote examples
Sue Perkins
English Comedian
I have slight attention-span issues, so I will often wander off, and then I will be alerted - in inverted commas - when the smoke alarm goes off. So that's how I work out if a bake is finished.
Quote examples
Pico Iyer
Indian Writer
To me, part of the beauty of a comma is that it offers a rest, like one in music: a break that gives the whole piece of music greater shape, deeper harmony. It allows us to catch our breath.
Quote examples
Kathy Burke
English Actress
In fact, I didn't realize I was 'unattractive' - in inverted commas - until I started acting. It was, 'Oh no, you're not right for the part - we're looking for a pretty girl.
Quote examples
Francine Prose
American Writer
If things are going well I can easily spend twelve hours a day writing, but not writing writing, just thinking and revising and taking a comma out and putting it back in.
Quote examples
Paulie Malignaggi
American Athlete
Hatton don't look much like a guy who thinks about commas. But he is a gentleman. His family are gentlemanly. Real classy people.
Quote examples
Ze Frank
American Comedian
A good procrastination should feel like you're inserting lots and lots of commas into the sentence of your life.
Quote examples
Mick Foley
American Actor
I leave my editor to put the periods and commas in.
Quote examples
Mark Helprin
American Novelist
I have been fighting over commas all my life.
Quote examples
Matthew McConaughey
American Actor
Life is a series of commas, not periods.
Example 1 of 10
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