Day 31: Use commas in series to indicate groups.

A previous strategy said to use a comma after every item in a series (except the last item). However, what if some of the items in a series are not a single thing but a pair of things? By using your commas after each individual item or group of items (except the last), you let your reader know how items are grouped. Consider this sentence.

“The financial analysis examined the cost structure, the expense report and budget expectation, and the revenue stream.”

Because the commas are used after every group of items, we know that the analysis examined 3 different things. First, it examined the cost structure. Second, it examined the expense report AND budget expectation together. Third, it examined the revenue stream.

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Day 32: State ideas in one sentence and clarify in the next.

Writers make their writing difficult to understand when they put too much information in a single sentence. Often, writers will introduce a topic or idea, and then clarify it in the same sentence. Consider this sentence.

“The two-story parsonage, which was constructed in 1850 and appeared in fine shape, was riddled by termite tunnels.”

Adding the explanation in between the commas puts a long break between the subject and the verb, making this sentence a bit awkward to read. Also, the date of construction and appearance is off topic, though it is related. We can follow this tip to produce the following two sentences.

“The two-story parsonage was riddled by termite tunnels. It was constructed in 1850 and appeared to be in fine shape.”