comma

The comma (,) is a punctuation mark that indicates a pause in a sentence, sets off words, phrases, or clauses, separates items in a list, and performs many other functions.

The comma is one of the most versatile and commonly misused punctuation marks in English. It serves many different functions in English, such as:

• Indicating a pause in speech: I was walking down the street and, um, I was hit with a pie by a clown. 
• Separating items in a list: I put my shirts, pants, and socks into my suitcase.
• Separating adjectives: LaShona has a big, hairy dog. 
• In numbers larger than 999: I bought a computer for $1,300.
• In dates and addresses: I visited Des Moines, Iowa, on October 17, 2005.

There are many more jobs commas do. For more detailed information on how to properly use commas, read our thorough guide on them.

The first records of the word comma come from around 1520. It ultimately comes from the Greek kómma, meaning “a piece cut off.”

Were you surprised that the word comma only dates back to around 1520? In fact, commas themselves aren’t that much older and can be traced back to the first printing of books during the mid-1400s. Before this, writers would use dots and dashes to indicate pauses or separations. The early writers, such as those in ancient Rome and Greece, didn’t use any punctuation at all and all of the writing was scrunched together into large blocks of letters.

The comma that is used before the final item in a list is called the Oxford comma (sometimes also called the Harvard comma or the serial comma). This particular comma has surprisingly been a source of debate, and some writing styles, such as the Associated Press, don’t require it to be used. However, omitting the Oxford comma can sometimes lead to some pretty silly sentences.

This funny magazine cover shows why it is important to use commas.

willhillier.com

Because they have so many functions, commas confuse even native English speakers.

The big thing I've learned by proofreading a lot of work written by adults is the majority of y'all never learned how to properly use a comma.

— Mik Drake (@MikDrake) January 8, 2021

I took the Grammar Table to Central Park today, and the first, second, and third visitors all asked about the Oxford comma. There is some serious pent-up pandemic demand for Oxford comma discussions.

— Ellen at the Grammar Table (@GrammarTable) September 14, 2021

• punctuation mark
• Oxford comma
• grammar
• apostrophe
• period
• colon
• semicolon
• quotation mark

True or False?

You can end a sentence with a comma.