comma
/'kɔmə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A punctuation mark (,): A comma is a punctuation mark used to indicate a pause or separation between parts of a sentence, such as between items in a list or clauses.
- A type of butterfly: A comma is also a North American and European butterfly (Polygonia c-album) with a white comma-shaped mark on the underside of its hind wings.
Examples of Usage
- Noun (Punctuation):
- Please buy apples, oranges, and bananas. (The comma separates items in a list.)
- She was tired, so she went to bed early. (The comma separates two independent clauses joined by a conjunction.)
- Noun (Butterfly):
- We saw a comma resting on the flower. (This refers to the butterfly species.)
Advanced Usage
- The Oxford or Serial Comma: The use of a comma before the conjunction (usually 'and' or 'or') in a list of three or more items.
- The flag is red, white, and blue. (The comma after 'white' is the Oxford comma.)
- Comma Splice: An error where two independent clauses are joined only by a comma without a coordinating conjunction.
- Incorrect: It's raining, I have an umbrella. (This is a comma splice.)
Variants and Related Words
- Inverted commas (n, chiefly British): Quotation marks.
- The title was in inverted commas.
- Comma butterfly (n): The full name for the insect.
Synonyms
- Punctuation mark: (General category)
- Butterfly, anglewing: (For the insect)
Related Phrases
- Put something in commas: To enclose something in quotation marks.
- He put the technical term in commas.
- Comma fault: Another term for a comma splice error.
Related Idioms
- Dot the i's and cross the t's (and use the commas): (An extended, informal variant) To be meticulous and pay attention to every small detail, including punctuation.
Noun
- anglewing butterfly with a comma-shaped mark on the underside of each hind wing
- a punctuation mark (,) used to indicate the separation of elements within the grammatical structure of a sentence