I don’t often give grammar lessons, but if there’s one thing I enjoy and use a lot in my writing, it’s commas. I’ve even had people mention that commas must be my favourite punctuation mark, since I use them so much! But here’s the thing. A lot of people don’t really know how to use commas properly. It’s not a topic covered in school much past primary, and it’s easy to get lost with it, especially in longer sentences. So, my lesson today is simple – how to use a comma, properly.
How to Use a Comma in a Sentence
As with a lot of grammar/punctuation things, there are a lot of rules, and exceptions to those rules, when it comes to commas. But rather than go through all of the detailed and complicated rules, we’re going to stick to the basics, which are:
- Commas help to make meaning clear by separating words, phrases or clauses in a sentence.
- Commas are used to separate clauses, adjectives, and items in a list.
- Commas are also used to introduce direct speech.
For such a little thing, commas have some big jobs to do! And when you get the comma in the wrong place, or forget it altogether, then it can completely change the meaning of your sentence. My favourite example is these two sentences, where the only change is the comma:
Let’s eat, grandma!
Lets eat grandma!
Yes, punctuation really can save lives. And more importantly, it’s what helps your content make sense. That’s why it’s so important to use commas and not be afraid of them. They’re a good thing!
Using Commas for Clarity
There’s a wonderful quote I want to share with you here by Ursula Le Guin from her book Steering the Craft:
“… punctuation tells the reader ‘how to hear’ our writing. That’s what it’s for. Commas and periods bring out the grammatical structure of a sentence; they make it clear to the understanding, and the emotions, by showing what it sounds like — where the breaks come, where to pause.”
In other words, it makes your copy clearer, easier and more pleasant to read. It gives your writing a voice, with breath pauses in right places, and makes your message crystal clear. That’s a big reason to learn how to use commas, if nothing else.
Do Commas Matter in Conversational Copy?
There are some writers out there who feel that following all the rules of punctuation will make their writing feel stuffy and dry. They prefer a conversational approach, ‘writing like they speak’ and letting their voice make the connections. And while I think that learning to write how you talk is an amazing goal and one we should all aspire to, punctuation isn’t the thing that will get in the way. Having a really good grasp of punctuation and how to use it is what allows you to write more conversationally. By giving the reader a simple way to understand the structure of your sentences. After all, to build a connection with your audience your words need to be in the right place at the right time, and a comma is what puts them in that right place.
Develop Your Understanding
Unless you’re the kind of person who likes to sit and read grammar rule books, then getting all of the eccentricities of commas probably isn’t in your future. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have a solid understanding of them. My recommendation is to use a proofreading tool (Grammarly is my favourite), and then really pay attention to what it’s telling you. If it flags a missing comma and you don’t understand why, take a minute or two to figure it out. Do some reading around it, so that you can avoid it in the future and improve your writing all in one go.
I know this was very much a top level view of it, but hopefully this gives you a bit more information about the humble comma, and how to use it properly in your writing. I speak gto a lot of people who are worried about using commas ‘too much’, but i’m here to tell you that’s nonsense. Commas are necessary, and as long as you use them properly, you’re safe.
Want to talk punctuation with me over hot chocolate? Give me a call!