Advertisement
Advertisement
comma
[kom-uh]
noun
the sign (,), a mark of punctuation used for indicating a division in a sentence, as in setting off a word, phrase, or clause, especially when such a division is accompanied by a slight pause or is to be noted in order to give order to the sequential elements of the sentence. It is also used to separate items in a list, to mark off thousands in numerals, to separate types or levels of information in bibliographic and other data, and, in many European countries, as a decimal point.
Classical Prosody.
a fragment or smaller section of a colon.
the part of dactylic hexameter beginning or ending with the caesura.
the caesura itself.
Music.the minute, virtually unheard difference in pitch between two enharmonic tones, as G♯ and A♭.
any of several nymphalid butterflies, including the North American Polygonia comma, having a comma-shaped silver mark on the underside of each hindwing.
comma
/ ˈɒə /
noun
the punctuation mark(,) indicating a slight pause in the spoken sentence and used where there is a listing of items or to separate a nonrestrictive clause or phrase from a main clause
music a minute interval
short for comma butterfly
comma
A punctuation mark (,) used to indicate pauses and to separate elements within a sentence. “The forest abounds with oak, elm, and beech trees”; “The bassoon player was born in Roanoke, Virginia, on December 29, 1957.”
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of comma1
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of comma1
Example Sentences
Unlike periods and commas, em dashes aren’t integral to sentence structure; they’re a considered choice that can, but by no means have to, take the place of commas, parentheses and semicolons.
The author has a curious relationship with commas; his sentences often run on to the point where you might find yourself looking for periods without finding them.
But they speak so fast, and talk about no punctuation — there’s not a period or a comma in the world to stop them once they start talking.
His paragraphs flow like the water he admires: sometimes tranquil and easy, other times a tumbling, mixing, effervescent torrent directed by commas, never promising a full stop.
"I agree with much of what he said, but not absolutely every word and dot and comma of it," he added.
Advertisement
When To Use
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.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse
