Commas Mean a Little Pause

A comma looks like a period with a little tail. It tells you to take a tiny pause, shorter than a period. Commas often separate things in a list. Read 'I packed socks, a shirt, and a toothbrush. ' Pause just a little after 'socks' and after 'shirt.

' Commas also come after words like 'Yes' or a name. 'Mia, come here. ' The small pause after 'Mia' shows you are calling her. A period is a stop sign, and a comma is more like a speed bump. Slow for a blink, then keep going.

• 1A comma means a short pause.
• 2Commas often separate items in a list.
• 3A comma pause is shorter than a period stop.