(There’s a contest at the end of this post. Free Phrase Wit copies to winners!)
Comma comma comma comma comma cha-me-le-on. You come and go. You come and go, oh-OH-oh.
Has everyone just given up on this little squiggle? These little worms are the subject of much punctuation paranoia and angry anarchy: “Oh, I’m not sure where the comma goes, so I’ll just put it here! Or leave it out! Or not even think about it in the first place because you know what I’m trying to say.” — Don’t you?
No. I don’t.
Direct from the Greek, the word comma (κόμμα) means something cut off, or a short clause. In written sentences, commas help us to understand the intended meaning of something that would otherwise be conveyed by rhythm of speech and tone of voice. Rules followed conventions, and we follow the rules. Mostly.
There’s a fad in modern writing to get away from slavishly following comma rules. “Since when are these comma placements hard and fast rules? If you can understand the sentence without the comma, go ahead and leave it out.” Fine. But people who left something out knew there was a something in the first place, a something that should have been left in.
Look, punctuation rules are agreed-upon conventions that help us read quickly and accurately without working too hard. When not indulging in creative self-expression and faddish economies by finessing these rules, following them (mostly) means everyone can follow you. And that, dear readers, is the point.
Apostrophes — the commas of the air — are another dog’s dinner.
Can you share a sentence (yours or another’s, attributed please) that are irrevocably wrecked or inarguably altered because of missing or misplaced comma(s)? Free promo copies of Phrase Wit to the best 5 submissions, or to the first 5 best submissions, or to all 5 submissions if that’s all we get, or… never mind. Just submit your sentences to: [email protected] or post them below.
Winners will be announced on Monday.
Finesse: In the instance above, finessing means to “slyly attempt to avoid blame or censure” when writing a sentence without the recommended punctuation. More plainly put, trying to get away with something.
Here’s a sentence that means two different things depending on how/where you put the punctuation:
Woman without her man is nothing.
Don’t know the origin of the sentence, other than it was used in grammar class I had many, many years ago.
“That student said the teacher is doing very well in my class.”
It needs some more quotation marks and commas.
By the way, I think the teacher and the student are both doing well!