In "writing thoughts no one asked for, and anyone who cares already has an opinion" #43857333, subsection commas 7434.
The line-
"Dad carried Ella and Grandpa carried the bike."
I changed this and put a comma after Ella. Why? When you read it, you understand properly what's going on. BUT... a comma does separate the thoughts.
Mid-way through the sentence, especially if you're not reading with strict attention, in a rush, stoned, whatever.. for a moment, your brain MIGHT be picturing Dad carrying Ella and Grandpa.
This is of course, idiotic. The comma isn't NEEDED. But its inclusion makes it more readily digestible.
This particular example is for work (name changed, obv) and the reports I edit are to be usable in fast, easy references by law types, but for my own prose, I don't want readers tripping as they read, even a little- (unless I want to slow them down for a reason, but there's smoother ways to do that). I over-use commas if anything, but if the clarity is at stake, I'll suffer a few too many commas over a few too... few.
This message has been brought to you by commas. Commas: for home, office, camping, or Oxfordian lists. Now available in wingding!
