Punctuation guide

Commas

A comma marks a small pause inside a sentence. It never joins two whole sentences on its own.

The rules

When it's taught at school: Lists in Year 2; fronted adverbials in Year 4; extra information in Year 5.

1
Between items in a list
In British English there's usually no comma before the final 'and'.
- We packed sandwiches, crisps, apples and juice.
2
After a fronted adverbial
A fronted adverbial is a phrase at the start that says when, where or how. A comma comes after it.
- After lunch, we played football.
- Without a sound, the cat crept closer.
3
Around extra information
A pair of commas can hold extra information in the middle of a sentence, like brackets.
- My uncle, who lives in Wales, is a farmer.
4
With speech
A comma separates spoken words from who said them.
- "We're late," said Dad.
- Dad said, "We're late."
5
To avoid confusion
- Let's eat, Grandma! (not "Let's eat Grandma!")

I bought eggs milk, bread and butter.
I bought eggs, milk, bread and butter.
Each item in the list needs a comma after it, except the last two, which are joined by 'and'.
It was cold, we wore our gloves.
It was cold, so we wore our gloves.
A comma can't join two sentences on its own. Add a joining word, or use a full stop or semicolon.

Real examples of the questions in our papers. Cover the answer and see if your child can find the mistake.

We bought apples / pears, bananas / and plums / at the market.
Show the answer
Part A should be We bought apples,. Commas separate the items in a list, so a comma is needed after apples.
They're bringing / sandwiches crisps / and juice / to the picnic.
Show the answer
Part B should be sandwiches, crisps. Commas separate the items in a list, so a comma is needed after sandwiches.
Ravi packed a / torch a map / and a compass / for the hike.
Show the answer
Part B should be torch, a map. Commas separate the items in a list, so a comma is needed after torch.
We visited / Paris Rome, / Berlin and / Madrid last summer.
Show the answer
Part B should be Paris, Rome,. Commas separate the items in a list, so a comma is needed after Paris.
Ella's grandad / grows carrots / beans and / lettuces in his garden.
Show the answer
Part B should be grows carrots,. Commas separate the items in a list, so a comma is needed after carrots.

The daily spelling workout ends with a short punctuation round at your child's level, and brings back the marks they miss.