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Commas
Commas are punctuation marks that help you pause and make your sentence easier to read by separating parts.
A2Punctuation & Mechanics
What commas are and how they form
A comma is a small mark ( , ) that breaks a sentence into easier parts.
- Between list items to separate things in a list (e.g., apples, bananas, oranges).
- Before and/or/but when joining two full sentences (e.g., I went home, but it rained).
- After introductory words like Well or However (e.g., Well, I’m not sure, but let’s try).
When/why to use commas
Use commas to:
- To separate three or more words in a list (makes your sentence neat)
- Join two short sentences with and or but (avoids run-on sentences)
- Set off words like however or well at the start (shows your thinking time)
Correct examples
- We bought apples, bananas, and oranges from the market.
- I wanted to go, but it started raining.
- Well, I think we should leave now.
- She studies maths, science, and history every day.
- They live in London, but work remotely.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: My favorite fruits are apples, bananas and oranges. Correct: My favorite fruits are apples, bananas, and oranges.
- Wrong: I like coffee but not tea. Correct: I like coffee, but not tea.
- Wrong: However I disagree. Correct: However, I disagree.
Memory trick
Think: comma = little pause. Read your sentence—add commas where you naturally stop to breathe before finishing!
Quick check
Which of the following sentences uses commas correctly?
Where this matters in your exam
In IELTS Writing, commas help organize lists and show clear connections between ideas.
- Writing Task 2
Use commas to separate list items and join sentences with and/but for better cohesion.