scratch comma
"scratch-comma" is a 12-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“scratch comma” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a noun - the kind of word writers most often double-check.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 13
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Synonym of slash ⟨ / ⟩ in its former use as a form of comma.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | scratch comma |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| Letters | 13 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “scratch comma” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for scratch comma is 13 letters long, classified as a noun. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. The dominant gloss from Wiktionary reads: "Synonym of slash ⟨ / ⟩ in its former use as a form of comma.".
No generated misspelling entries exist for scratch comma in our index, suggesting the orthography follows predictable English patterns. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.
Etymologically, the entry records: From its appearance. The correct English form is scratch comma, spelled S-C-R-A-T-C-H- -C-O-M-M-A.
Definition
- 1Synonym of slash ⟨ / ⟩ in its former use as a form of comma.
Etymology
From its appearance.
Synonyms
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you spell "scratch comma"?
What does "scratch comma" mean?
What is the origin of the word "scratch comma"?
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Using “scratch comma”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is S-C-R-A-T-C-H- -C-O-M-M-A - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source
Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.