Why commas do not create sentences
A sentence contains at least one main clause. In normal writing, it usually starts with a capital letter and ends with sentence-ending punctuation. A comma has a different function. It organizes content inside the sentence.
A sentence can contain no commas, one comma, or many commas. The number of commas does not determine the number of sentences.
Sources:Cambridge Dictionary: Clauses and sentencesCambridge Dictionary: Punctuation and commas
Examples
- We bought apples, pears, and bread. This is one sentence with two commas.
- After lunch, we returned to work. This is one sentence with one comma.
- Stop. Listen. These are two sentences with no commas.
How text counters handle commas
A comma counter counts comma characters. A sentence counter usually looks for sentence-ending marks, such as periods, question marks, and exclamation points. Each tool measures a different part of the text.
Use the comma counter when you need a punctuation total. Use the sentence counter when you need the number of sentences.