Comma Controversies
By Kate Grady
EuroLogos.com
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Commas are like the salt we sprinkle throughout
our writing adding clarity and the rhythms of
speech. We could hardly live without them, and
yet, tastes differ. Are there rules?
The purpose of the comma is to prevent confusion
for readers. Take for example the sentence "When
everybody was ready to eat, the cat jumped on
the table." Without the comma , it conjures
up the fleeting image of a very sorry end for
kitty. Good thing for the comma! Not only can
it function as the secret weapon of animal rights
activists, but it also makes reading more comfortable.
In this article we will take a brief look at
some other places to add that refreshing pause,
the comma.
Opening lines
As in the sentence above, an introductory word
group is always followed by a comma. These are
word groups that tell the reader when, where,
how, or why the action referred to in the sentence
is occurring. The opening sentence of a business
letter often contains this construction. You
may start out saying something like "As we discussed
on the telephone, I am hereby enclosing my restaurant
expenses for last month." The same rule applies
to a narrative statement, which often starts
out with the date on which something is taking
place: "On May 13, 1999, the annual company
barbecue will be held, weather permitting."
Note the use of the commas to set off the year
from the date and the parenthetical expression
at the end. An event that has already happened,
of course, is treated in the same way: "Last
year, the barbecue, which featured a spectacular
display of pyrotechnical effects provided by
our amateur chefs, was a resounding success."
Incidentally, clauses starting with "which",
called nonrestrictive clauses because they contain
information that is not essential to the sentence,
should always be separated by commas.
And more
Commas related to the word "and" are the cause
of confusion verging on controversy. The question
of whether to use a comma before "and" remains
hotly contested. People have often learned different
rules on this one in their earliest school days,
about which they will argue fiercely. The truth
is, in a series of items, the comma between
the last two is optional. Some people feel that
it should be included to avoid ambiguity. Thus:
"The recipe calls for tequila, tabasco, and
fresh coriander." Most writers would probably
not include the last comma in this case. However,
in certain sentences it can make a difference:
"My grandfather willed me his prize barbecue
equipment, an arc welder, and an old tin motorboat,"
for example.
The comma appears more than any other punctuation
mark in English. Like with cooking, you should
remember a few basic rules and then add to taste.
Careful use will enhance the flavour of any
text.
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