Commas to avoid ambiguity...

So this week we have had fun exploring the use of commas... Sound strange? Well maybe at first, but when you take a look at some of the sentences below and how the use (or lack) of a comma can cause chaos with your sentence meanings then I think you'll see why it got us chuckling...

• We  ate  chocolate  cake  and  raspberries.
• We  ate  chocolate  cake  and  raspberries.

• She  liked  Ben  who  played  drums  better  than  Jim.
• She  liked  Ben  who  played  drums  better  than  Jim.

• The  old  lady  collected  all  sorts  of  things:  silver  paper  hats  felt     flowers  and  buttons.
• The  old  lady  collected  all  sorts  of  things:  silver  paper  hats  felt  flowers  and  buttons.
• The  old  lady  collected  all  sorts  of  things:  silver  paper  hats  felt  flowers  and  buttons.
• The  old  lady  collected  all  sorts  of  things:  silver  paper  hats  felt  flowers  and  buttons.

•  Let’s  eat  Grandpa
• Let’s  eat  Grandpa

(I wonder what punctuation you would use after each version of the sentence above...)

• Stop  clubbing  baby  seals!
• Stop  clubbing  baby  seals!

Lastly, take a look at this outrageous article... I don't know what you think of Rachel Ray but I'm not a fan after reading this?!

If you find any articles where a comma could be put to good use or has already been used to avoid confusion then please bring them in to share! Perhaps you can think of some of your own...?!

Thanks,

Miss Barrell x