Commas
A comma is a small punctuation mark (,) that tells you to pause briefly when you read. It helps to keep your writing clear and easy to understand.
What You'll Learn
- How to use commas to separate items in a list
- Where to place a comma when writing three or more things together
- When you need a comma and when you do not
When to Use
- Listing three or more things: "I like apples, oranges, and grapes."
- Listing actions: "She ran, jumped, and skipped in the park."
- Listing people: "Tom, Amy, and Sam are my friends."
- Listing places: "We visited the zoo, museum, and library."
How to Form
Commas in a List
When you write three or more items in a row, put a comma after each item except the last one.
| Number of Items | How to Write | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Two items | No comma needed | I like cats and dogs. |
| Three items | Comma after each item except the last | I like cats**,** dogs**,** and birds. |
| Four items | Comma after each item except the last | I bought milk**,** bread**,** eggs**,** and butter. |
Step by Step
- Write the first item.
- Put a comma after it.
- Write the next item.
- Put a comma after it.
- Write "and" before the last item.
- Write the last item. No comma after the last item.
Example:
- Items: rice, chicken, soup
- Sentence: "Mum cooked rice, chicken, and soup for dinner."
Key Rules
- Use commas only for three or more items: If you have just two things, use "and" without a comma. "I like rice and noodles."
- Put a comma after each item except the last: "She bought pens, pencils, and erasers." The comma goes right after the word, with no space before it.
- Use "and" or "or" before the last item: "Do you want chicken, fish, or prawns?"
- Do not put a comma after "and": "I ate rice, chicken, and soup." There is no comma after "and".
Common Mistakes
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
| I like apples oranges and grapes. | I like apples, oranges, and grapes. | You need commas to separate items in a list |
| I like apples, and oranges. | I like apples and oranges. | Only two items do not need a comma |
| She bought, pens, pencils, and erasers. | She bought pens, pencils, and erasers. | Do not put a comma after the verb before the list |
| We ate chicken, rice, and, soup. | We ate chicken, rice, and soup. | Do not put a comma after "and" |
Clue Words
Look for these words near the comma:
Words that join the last item
and, or
Signals that a list is coming
such as, like, including
Example: "I play many sports, such as football**,** badminton**,** and swimming."
Tip: If you can count three or more things in a row, you probably need commas between them!
Practice Tips
- Count the items: Read your sentence and count the things in the list. If there are three or more, add commas between them.
- Pause test: Read your sentence aloud. Where you pause between items, that is where a comma goes.
- Finger check: Point to each item in the list. After each item (except the last), there should be a comma.
Quick Reference
| Rule | Example |
|---|---|
| Two items -- no comma | I like cats and dogs. |
| Three items -- use commas | I like cats, dogs, and birds. |
| Four items -- use commas | I ate rice, soup, fish, and fruit. |
| Use "or" in question lists | Do you want tea, milk, or juice? |
| No comma after "and" / "or" | She bought pens, pencils, and rulers. |