If you want the Cliff Notes summary of comma usage, thank Harry Shaw and his book, Punctuate It Right.
It’s an oldie, but his information on comma usage still stands as accurate.
Shaw maintains if you learn and consistently use his six comma rules, you will be correct most of the time. It’s worth a try.
What would you do with a sentence like this? It seems comma heavy to me.
I, my brother, Richard, who is six years younger than me, and my sister, Linda, who is four years younger than me, all were born in Flint, Michigan, but now live in West Monroe, Louisiana, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, respectively.
Wow, Lou! That is a long one. I would probably split that sentence into two sentences. The second sentence might be: “We all now live in West Monroe, Louisiana, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, respectively.” Let’s see what Patricia responds!
Thanks, Kit. The two sentence suggestion is a good one. I have a bad habit of using run on sentences. Once an idea gets in my mind I just “run” with it until the whole idea is on paper and then I put the period. 🙂