Love this advice, and yes, I have been calling you an editrix for some years now. Also calls to mind the dominatrix who shouts "Don't you know how to properly use commas yet?" And I don't, but with your expert guidance I will keep trying. The most common comment on college papers was "comma splice", and , honestly, I still don't know what that means. Also, "run-on sentence". Too many adjectives is pretty much my middle name as a writer.
Confusing is what punctuation is, and though comma splices could be called one of my writing faults I think that it could be said that run on sentences is more of a fault of mine, much like my funny laugh. Hahaha.
I have a reputation as somewhat of a comma whore. I do use them, a lot. The copy editor who reviewed my memoir manuscript was ruthless in her deletions. And, on an editorial review I received as part of a contest I entered, the reviewer mentioned when and where a comma would have made a sentence more clear.
Thanks for the tips--especially about reading out loud and noticing the pauses.
LORDY I needed this! It made me realize that I've always thought of myself as someone who uses commas judiciously but in fact it's TOTALLY RANDOM and I've never known how to use them properly at all. Adjectives are my obsession but I can't claim to have any great command of them, either. SO glad you're on the Womancake staff, Jennifer, so I can consult with an expert when I'm in a jam!
HA classic! I can imagine what it must be like to read everything with the Editor's Eye, and have to endure it with gritted teeth while others take no notice. BTW I love your suggestion to read something aloud and determine if it needs a comma, I'll do that going forward!
Love this advice, and yes, I have been calling you an editrix for some years now. Also calls to mind the dominatrix who shouts "Don't you know how to properly use commas yet?" And I don't, but with your expert guidance I will keep trying. The most common comment on college papers was "comma splice", and , honestly, I still don't know what that means. Also, "run-on sentence". Too many adjectives is pretty much my middle name as a writer.
Confusing is what punctuation is, and though comma splices could be called one of my writing faults I think that it could be said that run on sentences is more of a fault of mine, much like my funny laugh. Hahaha.
I have a reputation as somewhat of a comma whore. I do use them, a lot. The copy editor who reviewed my memoir manuscript was ruthless in her deletions. And, on an editorial review I received as part of a contest I entered, the reviewer mentioned when and where a comma would have made a sentence more clear.
Thanks for the tips--especially about reading out loud and noticing the pauses.
I, too, love commas!
Oh love this, love this! Now I can go over my work and see how badly (or not) I fudged it. It's great to have a template, Jennifer. Thank you!
Happy to help out, in a small way.
LORDY I needed this! It made me realize that I've always thought of myself as someone who uses commas judiciously but in fact it's TOTALLY RANDOM and I've never known how to use them properly at all. Adjectives are my obsession but I can't claim to have any great command of them, either. SO glad you're on the Womancake staff, Jennifer, so I can consult with an expert when I'm in a jam!
Funny that an editor friend saw this post and pointed out a missing comma!
HA classic! I can imagine what it must be like to read everything with the Editor's Eye, and have to endure it with gritted teeth while others take no notice. BTW I love your suggestion to read something aloud and determine if it needs a comma, I'll do that going forward!