Sending Your Writing Into a Comma Coma

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Sending Your Writing Into a Comma Coma

Posted on October 6th, 2009 in Grammar by Stephen J. Ardent

Are you stalling your writing with the improper use of the comma?

Admit it, I will, I do horrible things with commas. Just like that. Using a comma for a dramatic pause as though I were speaking, and to avoid using separate sentences, except that I am not speaking, I’m writing.

Proper Usage of the Comma

To separate elements of a list: “He kissed her, she slapped him, and he turned around and walked out.”
A comma should precede a conjunction if separating independent clauses: conjunctions such as “and, for, but, nor, yet, or, so.”
A comma can be used to distance an introduction: “The whole gantry shook, then the rocket lifted off the pad.”
A comma can be used to offset additional information, or parenthetical elements: “Einstein’s goal, to resolve a unified theory of everything, was not reached in his lifetime.”
Commas can be used with lists of adjectives. If the adjectives could just as easily have a conjunction between them, a comma will work just as well: “The tall, busty, bleached blond strode across the dance floor.”

Extra Credit

When writing a City and State’s name, the State is considered additional information and should be treated as a parenthetical element.
Unless the State’s name is used as a possessive.

So, it’s time to wake your writing up from it’s coma.

Probably be a good idea to check on your readers too.

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Tags: comma, English, Grammar, Style, usage, Writing

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9 Responses to “Sending Your Writing Into a Comma Coma”

Karen Gross
October 6th, 2009 at 9:24 am

Great article, I enjoyed it, this is a common problem, this overuse of the comma, for people who write,habitually, that is, sentences that are much too long, like this one.
ashan1614
October 6th, 2009 at 9:26 am

Thanks. I think I’ve got a pretty good handle on this one, but I will check my work to be sure.
Petalm
October 6th, 2009 at 5:25 pm

Good article.
Greg Wolford
October 6th, 2009 at 9:17 pm

Commas are like “a lot”. Both of them are misused often, over looked easily, and a pet peeve of many when done so.
Lucas Dié
October 8th, 2009 at 3:14 am

Great one; I usually go to the other extreme, I only insert commas when I can’t make head or tails of my own sentences anymore.
lillyrose
October 8th, 2009 at 3:41 am

I think we are all scared of commas. The more I think about it the more screwed up I get!
Christine Ramsay
October 8th, 2009 at 7:58 am

A very good and useful article. I must admit, even though I am a teacher, I misuse the comma at times.

Christine
WriteEditSeek
October 8th, 2009 at 7:09 pm

Love the title of this article. LOL Thanks for writing this. Comma mistakes drive me crazy.
mo hoyal
October 8th, 2009 at 10:16 pm

Really neat title! I enjoyed reading your article and there was a lot to be learned!