In an effort to educate myself, I am taking a deeper, longer and more exhaustive look at commas. The most basic use for commas is to indicate a pause where you would take a breath when reading. Personally, I like commas and have been accused, rightly, of their overuse. This topic makes my brain melt. There are many different styles and rules for usage. I am trying to list the most popular uses in this article. I am ready to listen to opinion and welcome discussion, since I am working from several sources and am trying to simplify things. I can’t say it’s succeeded but hey, I have to try. So, I am adapting many ideas of comma usage to suit our fantasy genre. 😉
Because it is such a huge topic, I envisage it covering two articles.
Ready? Hang onto your hats, grab your quills and let’s see what we can absorb before the brain melts.
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Commas are used to avoid confusion. Right, here are some different ways we can place the comma to avoid confusion.
When we want our readers to pause for breath.
Take a deep breath, for goodness sake.
We can use commas following an introductory word or phrase that precedes the main clause of our sentence.
In the Lord of the Rings, Frodo must destroy the One Ring.
Once upon a time, Little Red Riding Hood went to visit her grandma.
Yes, I have read…
However, did you read…
Finally, I am beginning to understand…
Of course, if you are confused…
We use commas to separate clauses within the sentence.
At first, when I began to write, commas were the bane of my existence.
It is correct to use a comma before direct speech.
She said, “Please make it clear this time.”
He said, “If I only understood.”
When using commas in an address, they separate different types of information.
The Opera House, Circular Quay, Australia.
Coffs Library, 2/123 Duke Street, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia.
Sydney, Australia. (rather than any other town called Sydney)
We should use commas on both sides of ‘parenthetical’ phrases or clauses. This included the non-restrictive part that contains additional information, not necessarily relevant to the main subject of the sentence.
She galloped toward the writhing serpent, which she knew was an illusion, causing three types of mayhem in her wake.
Whenever I begin to grasp the concept, if you can call it grasping, my brain turns to jelly.
This is a good one. I will try to explain it in simple terms. Non-Restrictive and Restrictive Clauses…Right. So we are clear on what that it is all about? Non-restrictive is when we are referring to a larger selection, while Restrictive shows that we are referring to a limited selection. Take care when placing commas around non-restrictive clauses because we can easily change the meaning of the sentence. For example:
I chose all the books that looked like fantasy novels.
RESTRICTIVE Meaning: I chose only the books that appeared to be fantasy novels. NO COMMA.
I chose all the books, which looked like fantasy novels.
NON RESTRICTIVE Meaning: I chose all the books, because to me they all looked like fantasy novels.
Lists. This is one my editor is adamant about. I am learning. Next MS will have this one corrected before submission. The comma goes between each and after the last item on a list.
He gathered up his bow, his daggers, his jacket, and his belt.
Exiled: Autumn’s Peril, Winter’s Curse, The Legacy of Lathraine’s Pledge, and The Battle for Enderseer Hold are the first four books in my series.
There are rules for using commas when we omit a word deliberately.
The road is long, the journey difficult.
He looked away, tried to forget.
Here is another fairly easy concept to grasp. Commas go before too, when too is used to mean ALSO.
Several bows and several arrows, too.
Parenthetical commas can be used to add emphasis to too, when and if too appears in the middle of a sentence. Not a practice I would suggest happens too often.
Commas are important if you are writing fantasy, but then so, too, is knowing where to put capitals.
Commas are placed after consecutive adjectives that share the same importance when they describe the same noun.
Trudging through the misty evening, rain filled clouds threatening a cold, disheartening deluge, didn’t inspire the heroes to linger.
Conjunctions like, but, or, so, and, yet, like, and although are preceded by a comma but only when they are used between two independent clauses.
The battle was over, but the soldiers didn’t leave.
Nothing matters more than this, so let’s not give up hope.
Ok, I think it is time to take a breath. With or without a comma. I know I have enough to digest.
In the next article we will continue with appositives, emphasizing adverbs, greetings, numerals, and last but not least, and possibly the most important, commas and ‘dependent and independent clauses’. Thanks for hanging in there for this exciting, fun packed, comma-filled article.
