Commas

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Punctuation marks that indicate a pause between elements in a sentence ; used to separate items in a list, clauses, or phrases for clarity ; also employed in numbers to signify thousands and in dates to enhance readability
2. Symbols that serve to denote brief pauses within sentences ; assist in organizing and clarifying written information, especially in lists or complex ideas ; utilized in numerical expressions and dates for easier interpretation
3. Marks used to create separation in written language, indicating slight pauses in sentences ; help organize information by dividing lists, clauses, or phrases ; function in numerical contexts and date formatting to aid understanding

Etymology: "Comma" comes from the Greek "kómma," meaning a piece cut off or a section, from the verb "kóptō," "to cut." The sense was originally about the cut or break itself rather than a punctuation mark. In ancient Greek rhetoric and grammar, a "kómma" was a short clause or phrase, a segment of a longer sentence marked off by a natural break in speech, so the name described a unit of text rather than a symbol. The Romans borrowed the term as "comma," keeping that sense of a short segment of a longer sentence. Over time the word came to name the small mark used to show such a break, and that is the meaning English speakers use today, applied to pauses in sentences, separating items in lists, and setting off numbers and dates.

Synonyms: punctuation marks, separators, dividers