One of Hanninen Freelance Editing’s regular blog readers — also a poet friend of mine, as well as a longtime contributor to The Centrifugal Eye — sent me a letter, after the “Comma Cops” article was published, with the hope of hearing more about actual “rules” for comma use, and especially guidance for choosing between commas and semicolons. Or periods and semicolons, for that matter, as so many of us struggle with the much-misunderstood semicolon.
"Separators" -- WIX Stock Photo
I figured this was a good time to go over some tips and recommendations for judicious comma usage, as well as trying to ease some of you into appropriate semicolon placements.
My poet friend, Mr. W, wondered, in particular, how to decide whether to use commas or semicolons when listing any series of things. This is a good question, because we often see lists embedded in prose divided up by semicolons. Other times, commas. So, why either?
My short reply to Mr. W was, “Generally, semicolons are used in lists of short phrasing, when to put commas would lead readers to confusion. Semicolons are sort of like little visual fences for separation, in those cases.”
The serial comma is used to separate or differentiate simple objects when listing them in a sentence or paragraph. Commas also separate adjectives — the modifiers, aka descriptors, of nouns. When objects and their descriptors begin to get a little complicated in concept (or just plain ol’ length), it can become hard for readers to sort out when new objects begin or end, especially when there are lots of commas, like signposts, trying to keep everything straight.
An author can help guide readers through a complicated list by using commas only between modifiers and related object phrases, and using semicolons between the next “item” on the list; items can consist of short phrases and are not limited to just a word or two.
Semicolons are good for more than just visually separating items in lists, though. They are also, as I explained to Mr. W, “used to connect what could be 2 complete sentences, but [which] are conceptually conjoined; the author puts in the semicolon to show the reader there is something special unifying the sentences. Often, like I just did, it is like saying the same thing in 2 different ways . . . but [as the author,] I want you [, the reader,] to mentally connect the subtleties.”
Why not just use two sentences? You can. Most writers do. You can; most writers do. To decide to use semicolons can often be a matter of style, or function. It’s also usually a signal to comprehend that the two sentences are not completely consecutive, but rather, they “overlap” conceptually. It’s that overlap you should look at; somehow, the two phrases cohabitate.
The semicolon, as a symbol of punctuation, is literally a period over a comma. It’s telling you, the reader, that first, “a period could serve here” — “however, let’s make only the slightest mental pause by also inserting a comma.” A semicolon tells you that: These two complete and separate sentences can be thought of as one/connected.
Sort of contrary, isn’t it, when you also think of that semicolon as a separator, when it comes to using it in lists?
Back to commas.
I’ve been asked at different times when commas should be used. I can tell you that I’ve heard that some people place commas in sentences wherever they think breaths should be taken, while reading aloud. That is not the sort of advice I’d give, though, because there are often times when no commas are needed, even if a reader may pause to take a breath within a sentence. Yes, sometimes readers pause after a clause, and yes, they often take breaths at about that time. But commas weren’t intended as breath markers, or even as breath mints.
Typically, commas mark and separate clauses, as well as prepositional and adverbial phrases (such as “recently,” and “typically,”). They often come before conjunctions (I drink coffee, and I drink tea, but not together, etc.) that join phrases and clauses, and after any words or phrases being listed, as we covered previously.
Commas may also be used as a form of “parenthetical” marks, in place of parentheses. In shorter sentences, commas can be effective in making asides meant to be additional commentaries; however, in long sentences, it’s usually wiser to place these comments “aside” in parenthetical marks: ( ). Your sentence with too many comma-notated asides will undoubtedly be accused of being “run-on.” Remember that from grade school? College, maybe?
There’s a myth put out by some English instructors that you should use a maximum of 3 or 4 commas per sentence. It’s just not so. Serial commas used to divide a string of adjectives are not the same commas that are used to separate clauses; they look alike, but have different purposes. If your sentence has a prepositional phrase opening it, a series of adjectives modifying one or more nouns, and one or more conjunctions combining and separating clauses, you are bound to have 6 or more commas digging their tails into the page.
So, then, what makes a sentence “run-on”?
Think “stream of consciousness.” Lots of words, dubious grammar, incomplete phrases, etc. And think comma splice — that’s when you use a comma where you should use a period (it’s a complete sentence). Or a semicolon, yes!
Example: “You have a tendency to want to combine two sentences and put commas between, don’t do that.” Put a period (or a semicolon) where that red comma is. Please? “You have a tendency to want to combine two sentences and put commas between. Don’t do that.” Or: “You have a tendency to want to combine two sentences and put commas between; don’t do that.”
Otherwise, start with an “If . . . , then” construction: “If you have a tendency to want to combine two sentences and put commas between, (then) don’t do that.”
Here’s the thing, though; no semicolons between incomplete sentences, unless they’re in a list. Got it? Phew!
I know I’m forgetting something you really want answers for, but send me an email and I just might be able to help you out.*
*Please note that I’m headed out of town next week and won’t be posting to the blog for the next bi-monthly Friday slot on June 1st (2018). I’ll check email periodically, but am off the clock until after June 6th. And fear not, Feature Friday will return June 15th.