Are You In The Three Comma Club?
Joining the Three Comma Club might be an aspirational goal, but it can also be a chance to take a break in an otherwise chaotic day.
Silicon Valley is a satirical look at tech companies. One particularly cringe-worthy character created the Three Comma Club — aptly named for people with a net worth over a billion dollars (i.e., requiring three commas). According to Grammarly, I’m a member of the Three Comma Club — not that I’m making a ten-figure salary as a freelance writer (is that even possible?) but that I don’t know how to use basic punctuation.
Every week, Grammarly sends an email with my most common mistakes. Apparently, I’m a fan of the comma splice (using a comma instead of a semi-colon) and leaving commas out of compound sentences. How I can both overuse and underuse commas at the same time are anyone’s guess. I’m a staunch supporter of the Oxford comma — go figure given my inability to use commas.
When I learned about commas in elementary school, the teacher explained that commas were where you stop and breathe while reading a sentence. Given our world, we can all use a few extra pauses here and there. Maybe that’s why I overuse the little curvy things — I subconsciously want everyone to take a spare moment for themselves here and there. Who knows?
Today is National Punctuation Day — just what everyone needs, a day dedicated to grammar. Instead of looking at grammar as a set of rules to follow, let’s celebrate this glorious holiday for what it is: a chance to breathe. Add all the commas you want, my friends. Give yourself a moment to pause in the middle of the sentence, just like this one. Go ahead; you deserve it!
How are you celebrating National Punctuation Day?
Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this post, make sure to subscribe so you don't miss the next one. I’d also love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to contact me anytime.