Comma in 'very very good'

Repeat intensifiers (very, really, so) need a comma to show a short pause and avoid a fused, typo-like look: write "very, very good." In formal writing, prefer the comma or swap in a stronger adjective.

Below are clear rules, practical examples for work, school, and casual contexts, and quick rewrites you can paste into your drafts.

Quick answer

Put a comma between repeated intensifiers to show a brief pause and intentional emphasis: "very, very good." Don't write "veryvery." If repetition feels clumsy, replace it with a stronger adjective.

Correct: "very, very good" (deliberate emphasis).
Wrong: "veryvery good" or "very , very" (typo/spacing error).
Rewrite option: "extremely good" or "exceptional."

Core explanation: when and why to use the comma

When the same intensifier is repeated directly before an adjective or adverb, a comma marks the pause and signals emphasis rather than a run-together word. On the page the comma improves readability; in speech it represents a short beat.

"very, very good" = intentional emphasis with a pause.
"very very good" (no comma) looks unedited in formal text.
"veryvery" is nonstandard and reads like a typo.

Wrong: She is a veryvery good singer.
Right: She is a very, very good singer.

Grammar specifics: how repeated intensifiers function

Repeated intensifiers act like coordinated modifiers that both alter the same head word. A comma is the conventional separator when you want a visible pause or rhythmic effect. Casual speech may drop the comma, but formal prose keeps it for clarity.

Treat repeated words as coordinated modifiers and separate them for clarity.
If the repetition precedes a noun phrase, the comma still clarifies: "a very, very short meeting."
When in doubt, add the comma or choose one stronger modifier.

Spacing and punctuation specifics

Use no space before the comma and a single space after: "very, very." Incorrect forms include "very , very", "very,very", or "veryvery". If the repeated phrase ends a sentence, the comma stays inside the clause, then add the period: "It was very, very good."

Correct spacing: "very, very" (no space before the comma, one after).
Wrong: "very , very", "very,very", "veryvery".
Comma + ending punctuation follows normal sentence rules.

Wrong: That movie was very , very funny.
Right: That movie was very, very funny.

Hyphenation and compound modifiers (edge cases)

Don't hyphenate repeated intensifiers (very-very); that's nonstandard outside stylized fiction. If you need a single modifier, rewrite: "extremely thorough." Use hyphens only for established compound adjectives like "well-known."

Avoid "very-very good" in formal writing-use a comma or a rewrite.
Keep the comma when modifying nouns: "a very, very detailed report."
Use hyphens only for standard compounds, not repeated words.

Wrong: We received a very-very detailed report.
Right: We received a very, very detailed report.

Real usage and tone: when you can relax the rule

In casual chat and texting, people often write "very very" without a comma; that's acceptable among friends. In emails, essays, and reports, keep the comma or pick a stronger adjective. Fiction can omit the comma to mimic breathless speech but do so with purpose.

Formal (emails, reports): use the comma or rewrite.
Casual (texts, social posts): comma optional but improves clarity.
Fiction/dialogue: omit only to show rapid speech or a character trait.

Work: "The results are very, very promising."
School: "The experiment was very, very successful."
Casual: "I'm very very tired" (fine informally; add comma to polish).

Try your own sentence

Read the whole sentence aloud. If your voice naturally pauses between repetitions, add a comma. If it rushes through, replace the repetition with a stronger word.

Examples: wrong → right pairs (work, school, casual)

Short wrong/right pairs to use in drafts. If a corrected sentence still feels clumsy, try the rewrite options below.

Work - Wrong: The numbers are veryvery encouraging for next quarter.Work -
Right: The numbers are very, very encouraging for next quarter.
Work - Wrong: Please send a veryvery short summary by Friday.Work -
Right: Please send a very, very short summary by Friday.
School - Wrong: The experiment was veryvery successful.School -
Right: The experiment was very, very successful.
School - Wrong: Her essay is veryvery well researched.School -
Right: Her essay is very, very well researched.
Casual - Wrong: I'm veryvery tired after that run.Casual -
Right: I'm very, very tired after that run.
Casual - Wrong: That cake was veryvery delicious!Casual -
Right: That cake was very, very delicious!

Rewrite help: quick strategies and ready-to-use rewrites

If a comma feels clumsy, try one of three moves: replace the repetition with a stronger word, restructure the sentence, or use punctuation (dash/colon) for emphasis.

Replace: pick a stronger adjective (extremely, exceptional, fascinating).
Restructure: move emphasis into a clause or use contrast.
Punctuate: use an em dash or colon for a sharper break when appropriate.

Original wrong: "The service was veryvery good."Formal rewrite: "The service was exceptional."
Original wrong: "The lecture was veryvery interesting."Neutral rewrite: "The lecture was very, very interesting and met all expectations."
Original wrong: "The finale was veryvery exciting."Emphatic rewrite: "The finale was very, very exciting-everyone went wild."

Memory trick: a tiny test to stop the mistake

Mnemonic: Pause = Comma. Say the phrase aloud-if you naturally pause between repetitions, add a comma. If it runs together, replace the repetition with a stronger adjective.

Read it aloud-if your voice breaks, keep the comma.
Search your draft for double words (very very, really really) and fix consistently.
When unsure, prefer the comma: it's rarely wrong and improves clarity.

Similar mistakes to watch for

The comma rule applies to other repeated intensifiers like "really, really" and "so, so." Avoid elongated spellings (sooo, reallyyy) in formal writing; they change tone rather than add legitimate emphasis.

"really really" → "really, really" for clear emphasis.
"so so" can mean 'mediocre'-punctuate to match intent: "so, so" (indifferent) vs. keep informal texting as is.
Avoid stretched spellings in professional text.

Wrong: The movie was reallyreally amazing.
Right: The movie was really, really amazing.
Wrong: Her answer was so so in depth.
Right: Her answer was so, so in depth.

FAQ

Is "very very" correct without a comma?

Informally, yes-people often write it without a comma. In polished writing, add the comma to signal the pause and avoid a typo-like appearance.

Do style guides require a comma between repeated intensifiers?

Most style guides accept the comma to indicate the small pause and emphasis. For formal prose, prefer the comma or replace the repetition with a stronger adjective.

Can I ever write "veryvery" as one word?

No. "veryvery" is nonstandard and looks like a typographical error. Use "very, very" or a single stronger adjective.

Should I use a comma in dialogue or creative writing?

You can omit the comma to mimic rapid speech, but do so deliberately. Most readers find the comma helps translate spoken pauses into readable text.

How can I quickly fix many occurrences of this mistake?

Search your draft for repeated intensifiers (e.g., "very very", "really really"). Use find-and-replace to insert a comma or swap in stronger adjectives. Grammar tools also flag repeated words.

Need a quick check?

If you're unsure whether to add a comma or how to rewrite a sentence, paste the sentence into a checker or ask a colleague for a quick read. For formal text prefer concise rewrites; for rhetorical or casual emphasis use the comma intentionally.