Contextualizing the Comma or, "Commas Are Not Confetti"

Oh, the dreaded comma. How infuriating is it that a tiny shrimp-like mark can cause so much grief for writers? It's no secret that commas mystify many of us, even if we're otherwise confident in our writing skills. In fact, you might not even have realized your misuse of commas until you got that first returned paper this semester. You know, the one that was so full of red ink (or red sidebar comments) that you could dip it in ketchup and see no real difference? "I've used commas like this for years," you may be thinking, "and no one ever said anything." That's probably because everyone else who read your work gave up on mastering the comma years ago.

There are good reasons that commas are confusing. Part of the problem, I think, is that several myths about the comma have somehow permeated our brains. How about this one: "Insert a comma wherever there's a pause." Well, not necessarily. What are semi-colons and periods - chopped liver? Another common misconception: if a sentence is really long, just throw some commas in to break it up a bit. Well, that's not only a comma disaster waiting to happen, but this line of thinking also tends to ignore sentences that ramble on without clarity. Sprinkling in a few commas here and there sure won't fix it.

So, how do you master the comma? The short answer is, "by learning the rules." (Rule #1: "Commas are not Confetti." Watch the video below to find out what this means.) However, rules regarding comma usage can seem numerous and complicated - until you learn why, not just where, you need to use a comma.

As MALS students, you appreciate the need to understand the context behind complex problems in order to better understand them. Writing is a complex art, so why not provide a little context for it? Knowing why the comma was developed in the first place might help you remember its purpose in your writing today.

So, before you develop an eternal grudge for this important, yet most misused, punctuation mark, watch this video. It's a little on the cheesy side, but it gives the comma a little context, and that's why it's my pick for the (first ever) punctuation link of the week!