Mastering Commas: A Quick 5-Minute Guide to Better Punctuation (Cambridge Rules)

Many language learners struggle with punctuation—especially commas. As a language learning centre, we’ve noticed this challenge often. The good news? If you have five minutes to read this guide, you can significantly improve your punctuation skills.
This article is based on rules and examples from the Cambridge Dictionary and is designed to help you write clearer, more accurate English.

Using Commas to Separate Items in a List

Use commas to separate a list of similar words or phrases:

  • It’s important to write in clear, simple, accurate words.

  • They were more friendly, more talkative, more open than last time we met them.

British English rule:

We do not normally use a comma before and in a list of single words:

  • They travelled through Bulgaria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Poland.

Using Commas to Show Natural Pauses in Speech

Commas are used to show where the voice naturally pauses:

  • I can’t tell you now. However, all will be revealed tomorrow at midday.

  • We had, in fact, lost all of our money.

  • James, our guide, will accompany you on the boat across to the island.

Commas for Separating Clauses

a. Main clauses joined by AND, OR, BUT

No comma is needed if both clauses share the same subject:

  • They were very friendly and invited us to their villa in Portugal.

  • Footballers these days earn more money but they are fitter and play many more matches.

Use a comma when the clauses have different subjects:

  • It was an expensive hotel in the centre of Stockholm, but we decided it was worth the money.

b. Subordinate clause before the main clause

Use a comma when the subordinate clause comes first:

  • If you get lost in the city centre, please don’t hesitate to text us or phone us.

Short sentences may drop the comma:

  • If you get lost just phone us.

c. Non-finite or comment clauses

Use commas when adding extra comments:

  • You do need to wear a darker jacket, if I may say so.

  • To be honest, I thought they were very rude.

d. Non-defining clauses

Use commas for extra information that is not essential:

  • The ambulance, which arrived after just five minutes, took three people to the hospital immediately.

  • Hong Kong, where the first ASEAN meeting was held, is a very different city now.

  • The storm, lasting as it did for several days, caused serious damage to villages near the coast.

Warning: No commas for defining clauses

Do not use commas when the clause is essential to the meaning:

  • Barcelona was the Spanish city that was selected for the Olympic Games.
    (Not: the Spanish city, that was selected…)

Commas and Speech Forms

a. Question tags and yes/no responses

  • They are going to the party, aren’t they?

  • No, thank you. I’ve already eaten too much.

b. Vocatives, discourse markers and interjections

  • Open the door for them, Kayleigh, can you. Thanks.

  • Well, what do you think we should do about it?

  • Wow, that sounds really exciting.

c. Direct speech

Use a comma before the quote when direct speech follows:

  • He said in his opening speech, ‘Now is the time to plan for the future.’

When the direct speech comes first:

  • ‘We don’t want to go on holiday to the same place every year,’ he said impatiently.

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Learn how to use commas correctly with this quick 5-minute punctuation guide based on Cambridge rules. Includes examples of lists, clauses, pauses, direct speech, and more.