Nathan Bransford - The Forums

cheekychook wrote:I guess my comments make me a cereal comma abuser.

It took me a minute to get that. Lol.

A few months ago I posted a link to some fab writing posters someone put on flickr, but I'm too lazy to go find it again, so I'll just list some of my favorites:

Serial Comma Haters Gotta Hate - na' mean?

Strunk And White Have A Posse - and they'll go active voice on your [expletive deleted].

Omit Needless Words, [expletive deleted]!

cheekychook wrote:

Robin wrote:I, can't, stop, using, them!!!!!!!

Any, suggestions, would, be, wonderful.

Put something small, like a stale rice krispie, under your comma key. That'll stop you. Or so I've heard. I'd never actually do such a thing... There are no food remnants of any kind under any of my keys... *cough* What? You said ANY suggestions. You didn't say they had to be good.

LOL!!! You're so cute ;)
If I did that (crunch) I'll hear so much (crunch) noise (crunch).
;)

When is a comma nondiscretionary, discretionary, superfluous, or redundant? When the comma changes or clarifies the meaning is an answer to all the latter.

For a punctuation farce sometimes critically approved, disapproved, or perhaps more applicable to British English and not as much to U.S. English in semicolon and colon usage, Lynne Truss Eats, Shoots & Leaves. An amphibological construct. The title and all possible comma variations on it illustrate how commas can change or clarify meaning or create ambiguity (amphibology).

A panda eats shoots and leaves.
A panda eats, shoots, and leaves.
A panda eats, shoots and leaves.
A panda eats shoots, and leaves.

A panda, eats shoots and leaves.
A panda, eats, shoots and leaves.
A panda, eats shoots, and leaves.
A panda, eats, shoots, and leaves.

A, panda eats shoots and leaves.
A, panda, eats shoots and leaves.
A, panda, eats, shoots and leaves.
A, panda, eats shoots, and leaves.
A, panda, eats, shoots, and leaves.
A, panda, eats, shoots, and, leaves.

Not all possible variables, but I think that's enough to present the point.

Great topic and such a funny thread! You guys are fun. :)

Robin, I'm like you - I love commas, and throw them in all willy nilly whenever I take a breath in my head. I still don't know the rules, so now I basically go back later and take them out at random, then cross my fingers, and hope I'm right.

What, makes, you, think, I, love, commas,?

Polymath, everybody knows pandas never leave after eating and shooting. Give them food and a gun and you'll never get rid of them!