Remember commas? Is it just me, or does there seem to be widespread confusion about when and where to use these handy little punctuation marks? Originally, they started out indicating where to take a breath when reading aloud, but now are used for so much more. Ultimately, though, they indicate a natural break in a sentence.
Use a comma to…
- Separate independent clauses in a sentence when using a conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so). I don’t like turkey sandwiches, but she keeps making them for me.
- Separate independent from dependent clauses. After I brushed the dog, I vacuumed the floor.
- Separate the elements in a series of three or more items. For Christmas I want a doll, a dog, a diamond, and a dictionary.
Note that there is an ongoing debate about whether you should use a comma before the final element in the series. Technically, you’re correct either way, but it’s generally considered better to use that final comma than not to use it. - Separate introductory word or phrases. Okay, we can go to the park.
- Set off non-essential elements of a sentence (parenthetical comments). The color yellow, in my opinion, is ideal for a kitchen.
- Separate two or more adjectives describing a noun. It was such a big, round, red ball.
- Separate a quotation. The most famous soliloquy in Shakespeare’s Hamlet begins, “To be, or not to be.”
Now, this list is in no way a complete one, and I’m not going to try to tell you otherwise. I didn’t touch on using commas for dates or numbers, and there are nuances that I ignored in this attempt to give you some basic information in a digestible size that wouldn’t give you mental indigestion. You can find much more about commas here or here.
The best part about this post is the title: creative, with appropriate use of commas! It’s been a while since I thought of Boy George, and now I can’t get that MTV video out of my head …
I’m glad to hear you say it’s more correct to have the comma before the final element in a series, because that’s how I learned it, and I don’t want to go around changing my ways. 😉
So much of grammar, for me, is about whether things sound right or not. So it makes sense for a comma to indicate where a breath would come in a sentence. I am grateful that my mom nagged me enough during my childhood, that I have at least some semblance of an ear for grammar.
Too bad they don’t make an ear for spelling. Or if they do, I sure didn’t get it!
“To be, or not to be: that is the question: […]” (Hamlet, 3.1.64)
Sorry to be pedantic concerning your typo (the missing “or”). Otherwise, an excellent post! “To use a comma, or not to use a comma” continues to be one of the most exasperating grammatical issues. (I, too, love your post’s title.)
The funny thing is I learned the opposite of Laura, to not include the comma before the final element. Now I have to rethink it.
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I’ve often struggled with the serial comma issue. Trained in AP Style, I would always drop it. But too many people have made a solid case for it, so I’ve been known to revert to it when I’m feeling all proper. 🙂
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I agree with J. I always used the comma before the “and”. I hope they eventually come up with a final rule saying that you have to!! It just sounds better!