comma

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comma

The comma ( , ) is one of the most commonly used punctuation marks in English. Commas are the same in appearance as apostrophes (), but are placed on the bottom line of the text, in the same location as periods.
Generally speaking, commas are used to connect two or more elements in a sentence, but the way in which they do this varies widely, depending on what these elements are and how they are arranged in the sentence.
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comma

punctuation mark (,) that indicates a pause in a sentence: A misplaced comma can convey a very different meaning.
Not to be confused with:
coma – deep prolonged unconsciousness
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree

com·ma

 (kŏm′ə)
n.
1. Grammar A punctuation mark ( , ) used to indicate a separation of ideas or of elements within the structure of a sentence.
2. A pause or separation; a caesura.
3. Any of several nymphalid butterflies of the genus Polygonia having wings with irregularly notched edges and a small comma-shaped marking on the underside of the hind wing.

[Latin, from Greek komma, piece cut off, short clause, from koptein, to cut.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

comma

(ˈkɒmə)
n
1. (Printing, Lithography & Bookbinding) 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
2. (Music, other) music a minute interval
3. (Animals) short for comma butterfly
[C16: from Latin, from Greek komma clause, from koptein to cut]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

com•ma

(ˈkɒm ə)

n., pl. -mas.
1. the sign (,), a mark of punctuation used to indicate a division in a sentence, as in setting off a word, phrase, or clause, 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 Europe, as a decimal point.
2. a brown and black nymphalid butterfly, Polygonia comma, with a silver comma mark on the underwing.
[1520–30; < Late Latin: mark of punctuation, Latin: division of a phrase < Greek kómma piece cut off (referring to the phrase so marked) <kóptein to strike, chop]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

comma

A punctuation mark (,) used to separate items in a list or indicate a brief pause.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.comma - a punctuation mark (,) used to indicate the separation of elements within the grammatical structure of a sentencecomma - a punctuation mark (,) used to indicate the separation of elements within the grammatical structure of a sentence
punctuation mark, punctuation - the marks used to clarify meaning by indicating separation of words into sentences and clauses and phrases
2.comma - anglewing butterfly with a comma-shaped mark on the underside of each hind wingcomma - anglewing butterfly with a comma-shaped mark on the underside of each hind wing
brush-footed butterfly, four-footed butterfly, nymphalid, nymphalid butterfly - medium to large butterflies found worldwide typically having brightly colored wings and much-reduced nonfunctional forelegs carried folded on the breast
genus Polygonia, Polygonia - comma butterflies
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
فَاصِلَةفاصِلَه
čárka
komma
komo
pilkku
zarez
vesszõvessző
komma
コンマ
쉼표
kablelis
komats
virgulă
čiarka
vejica
komma
เครื่องหมายลูกน้ำ
dấu phẩy

comma

[ˈkɒmə] Ncoma f
see also inverted
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

comma

[ˈkɒmə] nvirgule f
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

comma

nKomma nt
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

comma

[ˈkɒmə] nvirgola
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

comma

(ˈkomə) noun
the punctuation mark (,) used to show a slight pause etc.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.

comma

فَاصِلَة čárka komma Komma κόμμα coma pilkku virgule zarez virgola コンマ 쉼표 komma komma przecinek vírgula запятая komma เครื่องหมายลูกน้ำ virgül dấu phẩy 逗号
Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
References in classic literature ?
'Indeed I have little doubt,' said Flora, running on with astonishing speed, and pointing her conversation with nothing but commas, and very few of them, 'that you are married to some Chinese lady, being in China so long and being in business and naturally desirous to settle and extend your connection nothing was more likely than that you should propose to a Chinese lady and nothing was more natural I am sure than that the Chinese lady should accept you and think herself very well off too, I only hope she's not a Pagodian dissenter.'
You see I left off at a comma, and it's so awkward not knowing how the sentence finishes!
He set down her basket and the tin pot, and stirring the paint with the brush that was in it began painting large square letters on the middle board of the three composing the stile, placing a comma after each word, as if to give pause while that word was driven well home to the reader's heart--
Nearer and nearer waltzed Gagool, looking for all the world like an animated crooked stick or comma, her horrid eyes gleaming and glowing with a most unholy lustre.
Can you think of anything hardly bigger than a comma which the man with hell in his heart had to tear away as a testimony against him?"
For you ought to stop twice as long at a semicolon as you do at a comma, and you make the longest stops where there ought to be no stop at all."
Between two independent clauses that contain several commas and are joined by a coordinating conjunction
What we ought to have (comma) I believe (comma) is a Secretary of Punctuation (dash) to oversee the use of punctuation marks in written English.
Under plans out for consultation, no pupil would be able to get a C-grade in GCSE English without being able to "punctuate accurately using commas, apostrophes and inverted commas".
We'd omit the commas around John only if she had more than one husband -- her husband John as opposed to her husband Harry.
Paul Burrell's "journal" was "in inverted commas", as were his "secrets".