The Comma and I - Nuts and Bolts of Writing

The use of "and" in combination with adjacent commas seems to attract surprisingly polarized arguments among writers of different styles. As communicators, we often use the word "and" to link two phrases or parts of a sentence.

One popular viewpoint is that whenever we use the word "and", we should not therefore need to include a comma before or after the "and" as well. The basic argument is that the word "and" alone provides sufficient pause to separate the two clauses. Therefore, should we or shouldn't we use a comma with "and"? Which is "correct"? Does either option really matter that much?

Remember the purpose of a comma is simply to provide a shorter pause than a full stop. So what's the answer? Consider the following two sentences:

• Option 1, without a comma:
  "Jessica appeared tense, lost in her own thoughts; the trials of yesterday and of six panic-ridden nights locked and shackled in that stinking basement ..."
• Option 2, including the comma:
  "Jessica appeared tense, lost in her own thoughts; the trials of yesterday, and of six panic-ridden nights locked and shackled in that stinking basement ..."

In the second example, including a comma before the word "and" suggests a slightly longer pause is required - a split-second "thought-space" in which the reader is urged to ponder a little longer and possibly intensify the scene. Arguably, such a move allows for more emphasis to be placed on the "...stinking basement". Or maybe the differences are not significant enough to warrant much consideration. What do you think?

Sometimes, adding a comma with the associated "and" can indeed make a surprising difference to the meaning of a sentence. In other instances, little value appears evident. Moreover sometimes, adding the comma can even impact negatively on your sentence.

Before the outbreak of World War 1, the various factions would often communicate using telegrams. A poorly placed comma within a key telegram was rumored to have resulted in a serious misunderstanding by the recipient, drastically degrading relations. Soon after, World War 1 broke out. Although the true causes of war were no doubt, much more complex, we nevertheless wonder what the outcome might have been had communications between the various parties been clear-cut in every instance. Perhaps World War 1 could even have been prevented.

Key tip: developing good judgment is the key to dealing with the comma issue and many other dilemmas in writing.. Read much, test alternative word flows, keep practicing to develop your writing style.

From previous tips available on this website, I've suggested that the mechanics of communication is a continually evolving scenario. Therefore, consider the following guidelines:

• The "comma-adjacent-and" question is another area in which there's no necessarily right or wrong answer. Much depends on the specific writing snippet in question. Therefore, I recommend that you assess to determine whether including a comma before the "and" that separates two clauses improves the sentence.
• Alternatively, here's one way to avoid the entire question. Whenever possible or appropriate, look for ways to omit the use of "and" in your writing. With some revising, you may discover that losing "and" can often make a sentence tighter, clearer, more direct.
  
• For example, here's the sentence above rewritten without "and" or its associate comma: "Jessica appeared tense, lost in her own thoughts. The trials of yesterday though still fresh in her mind, were often overshadowed by violent flashbacks from those six panic-ridden nights locked and shackled in that stinking basement ..."

As the author / communicator, you always get to decide the precise path to take in your writing and speaking projects.

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