Punctuation Saves Lives

Part I: the comma

Photo by Michael & Diane Weidner on Unsplash

I have no idea why, when I asked for a picture of a comma, I got butterflies, but that’s the way it went. Everyone knows what a comma looks like, anyway, right? (,)

It seems like some people were told where commas go, and some people were not. Believe it or not, there are actually rules about them, and they are important. They, along with apostrophes (commas that have jumped up) can save lives. It’s true.

Rule #1: Use commas between 2 complete sentences joined by for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (remembered by the word FANBOYS)

We were late, but we got to see the whole game. (Joins sentences with subjects and verbs, so it needs the comma.)

We were late but got to see the whole game. (Does not join two complete sentences, so it doesn’t need a comma.)

Rule #2: Items in a series (also includes the “Oxford Comma”)

Most people know they have to put commas between items in a series:

We had hot dogs, French fries, and soda. Without the commas, the words would blend together, and you’d have dogs French.

It’s the comma before the “and” that people fight over, and that’s the Oxford comma. Most printed things leave that comma out, because ink costs money. But without it, there is an implication that the last two items are more closely related than the others, so Oxford (who I respect and have actually been there) says put it in, and I don’t argue with Oxford.

Rule #3: Use commas with introductory phrases and afterthoughts.

If you’d want a pause, use a comma.

Well, I don’t think I’ll go.

It’s my turn now, isn’t it?

Because my back was sore, I stayed home that day.

Jerry wants to go, too.

Rule #4: Use commas around names of people spoken to, not about.

This one is where the saving of lives comes in. Compare these two sentences:

Let’s eat Grandma before we go.

Let’s eat, Grandma, before we go.

Do you want Grandma for lunch, or do you want to take her for a nice outing? Commas make the difference.

Rule #5: Use commas around non-essential information and interrupters.

I had many students who thought all information was non-essential, but we won’t talk about that. Examples of non-essential, interrupting information follow:

My sister Judy has four children. (I have more than one sister, so her name is essential info.)

My sister, Judy, has four children. (I have only one sister, so her name is not necessary and could be left out. The sentence would be complete.)

Jack and Jill ran up the hill. (No comma necessary.)

Jack and Jill, who ran up the hill, never did get that pail of water. (Where they went doesn’t matter and could be left out.)

The best text I’ve ever used for punctuation and a lot of other tips on writing is The Least You Should Know about English by Teresa Glazier. The explanations are clear, and there are exercises (with answers in the back) to practice on to see if you’ve found the gist yet.

We like to think that machines can fix all our errors, but they can’t. The best writing is clear, concise, and correct. It ain’t easy, but it’s worth a try.