Comma challenge Copy

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Short sentences, with just one or two commas, are easy to check. The comma(s) will be there for a reason. Each comma will fulfil one of the purposes of commas. If a comma has no purpose, delete it!

For sentences that have more than two commas:

• Ask yourself whether you should create two shorter sentences out of this sentence.
• If the sentence needs to remain this long, identify commas that are acting singly and commas that are working in pairs, and check these as below.
• Fix as necessary.

For a single comma:

• Look at the position of the comma.
• Decide why it’s needed. If it’s not needed, delete it!
• If the comma is needed, check it’s in the correct position.
• Fix if necessary.

For a pair of commas:

• Look at the position of the two commas.
• Imagine deleting the words between them.
• If the sentence still makes sense, leave them where they are.
• If the sentence doesn’t make sense, ask yourself if you need to lose one of the commas, or move one or both of them.
• Fix as necessary.