Comma Comma Comma Comma Comma Chameleon

Are you a Comma Chameleon? Do your commas come and go, come and go-oooo?

While editing submissions, I find many issues with comma usage. Some Comma Chameleons will use a comma correctly in one sentence, and then, in a similar sentence, do away with the comma. Other authors either using too many commas or two few commas. Some authors seem to ignore the comma altogether. But pretending the comma doesn't exist won't get you off the hook. Commas, whatever people say about their fading importance, are still in use. And if you don't use them correctly, you can jeopardize the rhythm, meaning, and quality of your writing. Comma errors will stand out, rather than blend in with the rest of the article.

Commas should be used to divide compound sentences, to set off parenthetical phrases, after introductory words or phrases, to separate items in a series, preceding and/or following quotations . . . and the list goes on. But I'm not going to outline every necessary use of commas when others have explained it better than I could already. Please refer to the following sources whenever you have a question about your own comma usage:

Rules for Comma Usage

Using Commas

Writing will be easy if these rules are in your dreams.

Red, gold, and . . . green?

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