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The comma keeps the sentence in its proper order. It does not allow individual words or phrases to interact with neighboring words or phrases unless they belong there.

Serial comma:

An example of a confusing sentence: while shopping yesterday I bought several items a shirt for Ann a book for John a notebook for myself. It is doubtful if anyone would have had too much trouble understanding the sentence, yet it would make reading easier if a comma had separated the items bought.

Instead of the above: While out shopping yesterday I bought several items, a shirt for Ann, and a book for John, and a notebook for myself. I would have done more Christmas shopping, but being tired, took the afternoon off, went to a movie, bought a bag of popcorn, and rested for two hours.

Grammar experts explain that word series need to be separated by a comma. In the fruit basket I carefully placed apples, oranges, bananas, a pear, and a bunch of grapes. In a series such as two or more persons in a business firm, omit the last comma; Williams, Smith, Adams and Co.

Parenthetical expressions:

When writing a sentence if you suddenly need to add a little midway explanation, you add a comma. After Christmas, if time permits, I plan on writing a book about what I don't know about grammar.

Commas may be unnecessary if the pause is slight, and it may be too weak if the break in the though process is more pronounced. In the above sentence about the after Christmas book I intend to write, no damage would be done if the commas' were omitted, or never written for that matter. It's a matter of choice. I prefer using commas. Use two, not one. If only one is used, it changes the meaning of the sentence.

In the above statement, I was not sure if I could get by using a comma when the afterthought, or never written for that matter' was attached. I thought not and substituted a semi-colon and it passed the grammar checker.

Still not satisfied, I substituted a comma and it likewise passed. (My word spelling and grammar checker is not always on the ball.) I left it at that, I am, after all, learning about commas from William Strunk and E.B. White.

Dates, lettering, etc:

Another problem is dates. Where do we separate the numbers? Examples: March and July, 2007; December 4, 2006; Saturday, May 3, 2007. If, however, you use this form of dating, 7 June 2007, no comma is needed.

All stand in lettering are written in this way. etc., i.e., and e.g., and all abbreviations for "academic degrees", and titles that follow names

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