Using commas
Today I wanted to look at commas, as opposed to comas which I hope this post will not induce. , – there’s one for you. You’ll remember that in our riveting discussion on possessives, we met the difference between its and it’s. Today, with some Symi photos to keep us vaguely on the ‘living in Greece’ theme that this blog is sometimes about, I want to explain a few rules about the use of a comma. I’m doing this partly as an exercise to help me remember (which I constantly do not) and partly to give you something to read about on a Saturday morning. I’ll try and relate the examples to Symi, to relieve some of the stress of this ‘lesson.’
Okay, first up: When you are writing a list of three or more terms with a single conjunction, use a comma after each term apart from the last. [Strunk & White, you can find the full book here.] Examples:
Blue, green, and aquamarine (the colour of the Greek sea)
Euros, Drachma, or something else (the potential Greek currency last year)
She came to Symi, looked at the island, and fell in love with it
The comma here is known as a ‘serial’ comma, and some folk are serial serial comma users, if you ask me. (The comma also makes the vital distinction in some sentences, example: Let’s go and eat Grandma, as opposed to, Let’s go and eat, Grandma. But we should come to that later.) When writing business names you don’t need to use the serial comma: Grabit, Bodgeit and Scarper (well-known firm of builders), has no second comma, you will note.
Secondly, if you are putting a thought in an imaginary bracket, then use commas:
The only way to arrive on Symi, unless you want to swim, is by boat. A little ‘aside’ is inserted there with a comma either side. Choices arrive when you have words such as however, should you write: The best way to get to Symi, however, is by boat. Or, The best way to get to Symi however is by boat. (With no commas.) The general rule is less is more as long as it makes sense, but only ever use two or none, never, for example, write: The best way to get to Symi however, is by boat. I am sure I do that all the time. Naughty me.
The exception to this might be dates: February 20th, 2016.
A name or title in a direct address should have commas around it: If, Madam, you have not booked, you may have trouble finding accommodation in August. So should abbreviations: Moussaka, gigantes, etc., are all on the menu. An exception may be seniour or junior abbreviated: Yianni Poseidon Jr. (No comma.)
But there are no commas with what are called ‘restrictive terms of identification’, something Symi uses a lot of. As there are so many people called Yiannis, Lefteris and George, for example, locals use nicknames. In fact, I have been told by a Symiot on more than one occasion that this is ‘an island of nicknames.’ You might say Yianni Rainbow, as if that was his surname, but in other cases you might want to say The barman Costas, or Lefteris the truck, in which case, when writing, there is no comma after the name. Got that? Bravo!
That’s’ enough for today, the next section goes on about Nonrestrictive relative clauses, parenthetics, conjunctions and antecedent nouns and I know that I, for one, (‘aside’ commas x 2) am not up to that kind of technicality on a Saturday. So, (optional comma) go and practice your basic use of commas in and out of parenthesis (no comma here as it’s not a list of three or more, though some would always say never put a comma before and or other conjunction) and enjoy your weekend. We have nothing planned apart from a barbecue later today if the weather is up for it, and perhaps a walk on Sunday. (Comma before and there so that it didn’t sound like the weather was up for a walk.) Neil is attending a Solidarity Symi funded first aid course, held with the participation of the local surgeries and Doctors Without Borders. Check the poster for details and, if you are on Symi, (two ‘aside’ commas there), secure a place by phone.
