Praise of the Humble Comma

Johnny Coulanges

Creative Writing- Praise of the Humble Comma

In the passage Praise of the Comma, the author Pico Iyer demonstrates that people do not necessarily take into consideration the importance the comma. He explains that the common comma is a tool which helps make transactions occur smoothly rather than being obligated to come to a complete stop(period) every time a new thought might come to mind. It is very accessible and has made tremendous impact in the world of writing; it is a bold statement that allows you to capture the readers’ interest without necessarily giving up all the information at once. He uses several literary techniques in regards to the comma.
Iyer wants the comma to get the respect that it deserves. When he writes “, and, of a sudden, the mind is, quite literally, given pause to think” the reader is given a demonstration of the power of the comma. Reading the essay allows us to feel the importance of breathing while we read a comma. He also compares the use of the humble comma to a traffic light, letting us know as readers to pace ourselves and be prepared for a halt. It shows that the consequences of not using the comma can result in collisions or even in an accident. Punctuation is essential and can be a very important factor in communication.