Teaching that a period represents a long pause and a comma a short pause can be a useful starting point, especially for younger students or those new to punctuation. This approach provides a simple, intuitive way for them to “hear” sentence structure.
Of course, punctuation is more complex than just pauses. A comma isn’t merely a short break—it helps separate ideas, clarify meaning, and organize thoughts. Similarly, a period does more than signal a pause; it marks the end of a complete thought.
That said, as an introduction to punctuation, this method can be a helpful tool to get students started.
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