I don’t usually focus on “Grammar Rules” in my editing tips, but when it comes to commas we’ve got a handy little punctuation item that spans the border between rule and style – and it’s important to understand the difference between the two.
In this day-and-age the general rule of thumb most writers abide by is:
If you don’t need it, don’t use it.
Previously, this social rule was:
Drop one where you would naturally take a breath.
An early rule used to be:
Place one between clauses, always (The Oxford Comma among others).
The question remains though:
When do we absolutely need to use a comma?
The answer… when without one, what we’ve written doesn’t make sense.
Example:
I went to the store and ate breakfast.
(this means that you ate your breakfast at the store)
I went to the store, and ate breakfast.
(this means you first went to the store and then you ate your breakfast)
Both sentences above are grammatically correct, but the necessity for whether or not you use a comma lies in the intent of your meaning.
You’ll notice that I used a comma in the sentence above. I personally chose to use one there.
Why?
The clause (as highlighted by the use of the word “but” – a conjunction) I use is actually a whole other sentence: the necessity for whether or not you use a comma lies in the intent of your meaning. I could have chosen to separate these two ideas with a period or a semi-colon and that tells you right there that if other punctuation could be used then a comma helps connect the two ideas but continues to differentiate the separateness of each statement.
Unlike with the example below:
I ate breakfast because I could.
The way most modern editors deal with this is to leave the comma out – but you could have it in to separate the clause “because I could.”
Why did I leave it out this time? Why is okay to leave it out here and not in the example above?
Because it’s short… and we’ve come to recognize certain conjunctive words as representations in-and-of-themselves as invisible commas: but, because, although, etc.
However, if you’re looking at style in your written narrative, you can use the commas in this sentence or not. I’m specifically separating out my “aside” thought of if you’re looking at style in your written narrative even though I don’t have to. I want a pause and I want to clarify or modify my main sentence. If you’re modifying then you need a comma.
If I drop the however I can drop the commas and it would read like this:
If you’re looking at style in your written narrative you can use the commas in this sentence or not. (It still makes sense without the ‘pause’ added between the opening clause and the main sentence.)
But, if I worded the sentence like this:
However you use the comma make sure it makes sense.
In this instance the word however is not being used as a modifier but as meaning “to whatever extent.” Check out the Grammar Girl website for more details on this word and many other words and uses of punctuation.
So, if you decide not to put a comma in and your professional editor does, consider what it is you’re trying to say and whether or not it’s coming across with the right intent.
Happy Editing!
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Categories: Editing
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