The comma is an important element to your grammar knowledge. We sometimes overlook its value as both a punctuation device as well as a structural improvement mechanism. It not only helps us read things easier, but it helps us separate our sentences into manageable chunks to understand.
Let's take a look at our little friend: the comma. It has a few different jobs and it can be used differently depending on the context.
In the German language there is a quite useful rule of thumb for dealing with commas:
“You can/should use a comma after a word in a sentence if you would make an – even if little – break while speaking the sentence.”
Does this rule of thumb also apply to the English language?
Comma, Comma, Comma, Comma-chameleon? A comma joke! English nerds unite!
I actually don’t like the use-the-comma-when-there’s-a-pause rule. It’s very widely used, but it too often leads to unnecessary, incorrect and potentially confusing commas in the middle of very long sentences.
My pet peeve is seeing random commas between the subject and verb of a sentence because the writer felt like the reader needed to take a breath. For example, “The tall green apple tree at the foot of the hill at my grandfathers farm, is dying.” Even more common, people tend to put a comma before a conjunction in a simple sentence when there are two verbs. For example, “The tall green apple tree is at the foot of the hill, and grows badly in the partial shade.”
As you explained (very well, I thought) commas set off dependent clauses and separate independent clauses from each other. I think a good rule of thumb for comma usage is that, unless commas are used in a list, a date, or an address, you should be able to remove the part of the sentence set off by commas and still have a complete sentence. For example, “The apple tree, which my grandfather planted at the bottom of the hill, is dying” makes sense if you take out the part offset by commas and just have “The apple tree is dying.”
When commas are used correctly, they are a great way to help the reader break a sentence up into digestible blocks and figure out which parts are the most important. I think American schools often do a disservice by teaching that commas are stage directions instead of meaningful structural elements.
Thanks. Commas make me break out in a sweat. I am always unsure about using the nasty, little things.
It’s so true lala! They’re pretty tricky!
thanks for the lesson.It is a good lesson
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Yes, it is definitely used in the same way. This often prevents run-on sentences, confusion for the reader as well as simplicity of the message. Also, in terms of others reading your work, the commas help to monitor the speed at which they read what you’ve written. There are many formalities on how and on what to use commas for, and this rule of thumb is a great way of simply remembering their use. Thank you!