# Superfluous use of commas **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 14, 2017, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superfluous-use-of-commas/791250 "2017-07-14T15:18:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2017, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superfluous-use-of-commas/791250/41 "2017-07-16T22:56:26Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Rules shmules. If a comma makes the sentence easier to understand, use a comma. Is that a rule? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2017, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superfluous-use-of-commas/791250/42 "2017-07-16T23:04:56Z")
As I have always been taught, the comma that is present is required. It is a subordinate clause, as it begins with a subordinating conjunction. When a subordinating clause is followed by an independent clause, a comma is required. A comma is not required when the subordinate clause follows the main clause. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superfluous-use-of-commas/791250/43 "2017-07-17T07:43:02Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > Is that a rule? The purpose of language is to communicate. If the rules get in the way, fuck 'em. ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superfluous-use-of-commas/791250/44 "2017-07-17T12:56:17Z")
In my experience, the one and only rule of grammar that you can always count on is that no matter how you use it someone will be along in a minute to tell you you’re doing it wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superfluous-use-of-commas/791250/45 "2017-07-17T13:47:52Z")
you’re doing it wrong. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superfluous-use-of-commas/791250/46 "2017-07-17T14:36:48Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > Comma usage can be very important. For example: “Let’s eat, grandma!” vs. “Let’s eat grandma!” Then there’s the famous [_Eats, Shoots & Leaves_](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000OIZSVY/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1). > [@mbh](#): > > My high school English teachers would grumble about the passive voice in the middle of the sentence. I think there’s a federal statute requiring passive voice in tech writing and bureaucratic reports. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superfluous-use-of-commas/791250/47 "2017-07-18T12:07:05Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > My high school English teachers would grumble about the passive voice in the middle of the sentence. 😕 Did these teachers think comma usage especially had anything to do with that? ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superfluous-use-of-commas/791250/48 "2017-07-18T12:17:35Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > The purpose of language is to communicate. Any linguist, _especially one who’s worked in pragmatic_s, such as myself, would agree that this assertion is probably too simplistic to reflect the full-scope of how language functions. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superfluous-use-of-commas/791250.md?page=2)