Grammar RULES: Overcoming Comma Confusion

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Ah, that little pause, but not the pause that refreshes. It’s an annoying little punctuation mark that causes more bickering than most.

I’ve been in writing critique group sessions in which people argued over whether that coma should or should not be there.

Poor use of commas can show your “greenhorn” / newbie status immediately. You don’t want that, even if you’re penning your first article.

In a case like “Let’s eat, Uncle John,” it’s clear. Unless you’re a cannibal, you want the coma! But in many other situations, the waters become murky.

A writer I know said she sent her publisher a whole page of commas and said, “Put them where they go.” She has written a bunch of books (north of fifty, I believe) and perhaps she can get away with that. You and I, however, benefit from knowing the rules! So here they are. One thing to note is that if your publisher uses a certain style manual, there may be some slight differences. I believe it’s the AP style book that uses a comma after the second word in a sequence of three. Not all style books recommend this.

As a writer, it can be good to get a good style guide I have Elements of Style Volume 4 by Strunk & White.. You may have one for your industry/niche.

There is a style book for gardening writers, and there are others. Use whatever your publisher or employer says to use.

Follow your BLISS

Ronda Del Boccio

best selling author, speaker & Top Reviewer

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