Commas to avoid ambiguity
English · Grammar & Punctuation · procedural
Use commas to clarify meaning and avoid ambiguity in sentences where the absence of a comma could cause misreading
What mastery looks like
- Insert a comma to prevent ambiguity, e.g. 'Let's eat, Grandma' vs 'Let's eat Grandma' or 'Most of the time, travellers worry about their bags'
- Identify sentences where a missing comma changes the meaning and explain the two possible readings
- Use commas after introductory elements (adverbial phrases, subordinate clauses) to prevent misreading of the main clause
Check your understanding
Can Commas to avoid ambiguity explain why "Let's eat, Grandma" and "Let's eat Grandma" mean very different things — and use that kind of comma in their own writing to avoid confusion?
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