TIL a simple trick for remembering how to use commas

I always struggled with comma rules, especially with long sentences. For years, I just guessed, and my writing looked messy. Then, a tutor at the community center told me to read my sentences out loud and pause where I took a breath. I tried it on a grant proposal I was writing for three days, and it worked for about 90% of the tricky spots. It's not perfect for every grammar rule, but it made things much clearer. Has anyone else found a simple trick like this for grammar that actually helps?

2 comments

2 Comments

anna_craig16d ago

So that's why my writing sounds so out of breath...

alice_hall16d ago

Oh man, I know exactly what you mean... I have to go back and delete half my commas when I edit, because I write like I'm talking a mile a minute. It just all comes out in one big rush. Trying to slow my brain down enough for the page is the real struggle.