Double A here with some more informative information (what?). Lately, I've been trying to improve my writing and speaking skills, by reading a couple books on grammar and punctuation. In my reading, I've found that the comma is the most devious of punctuation marks. It can ruin your sentences and entire paragraphs when used incorrectly.
A comma is supposed to indicate a break, or pause. It also separates clauses. If used properly, the comma will make your writing eloquent and smooth. On the other hand, if used incorrectly, commas will, make your sentences, seem choppy, short, and make them difficult, to read. Notice how all the commas littered across the previous sentence make it difficult to read and comprehend. Commas should be used lightly and appropriately. They should make a sentence easier to read and easier to understand.
Choosing where to insert commas is a difficult task indeed. Commas can sometimes be inserted where, in normal conversation, there would be a pause. But this is not always the case. Commas, like all punctuation marks, help the reader understand the intention and meaning of a sentence. For example:
While I was eating the cat, scratched at the door.
Now, with the comma where it is, the meaning of this sentence is a person, eating a cat, while something scratches at the door. Grammatically speaking, this sentence is incorrect in more ways than one, but never mind that. If we remove the comma all together, look what happens:
While I was eating the cat scratched at the door.
Notice how as you read this sentence, you naturally want to pause. This inclination to pause, depending on the intended meaning of the sentence, should be where you insert the comma. Obviously I have never and will never eat my cat. Notice I said my cat, ha!
Commas can make or break your sentence, so make sure to insert them in between clauses, when you want the reader to pause (be careful with this one), or when you want to make the intent of the sentence obvious. Have a great one!
Double A
Awesome!
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