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Grammar for Grownups Quiz #42

Our Friend the Comma

In my job editing manuscripts, I have discovered two kinds of writers (punctuationally speaking): those who use commas only when forced to and those who sprinkle them in the text like so much salt.

The comma, remember, is the guideline for a reader to separate ideas or things, to pause after a phrase or clause, or to separate two independent clauses (sentences!).

Place some commas in the following sentences, then check the answers to see whether we agree or not. (My disagreement doesn't always make yours wrong.)

1. When in doubt throw the comma out.

2. Punctuation is made up of dots dashes curlycues lines and combinations of them.

3. Commas separate modifiers additional description from nouns to tell the reader who may be confused something more about the subject.

4. Yes the use of commas can be totally and irrationally confusing.

5. Please Miss Miller tell your students "Keep trying and it will all make sense soon."

Click here for my answer.

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