Comma Chameleon

Comma

Comma, comma, comma, chameleon.

Such a subtle separator can disguise meaning.

“Let’s eat, everyone,” sounds rather inviting.

“Let’s eat everyone,” sounds cannibalistic.

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Comma, comma, comma, chameleon.

Such a subtle mark can affect the pace.

“The rabbit with broken legs limped home,” sounds quick.

“The rabbit, with broken legs, limped home,” sounds slow.

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Comma, comma, comma, chameleon.

Such a subtle mark can hold so much power.

“My mom said her husband is crazy,” means one thing.

“My mom, said her husband, is crazy,” means another.

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Copyright © 2014 Chris McMullen

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10 comments on “Comma Chameleon

  1. Always loved Boy George, may have to look up his CDs now, and if I were still teaching ESL, I’d be groveling to use these examples as part of my lesson. I thoroughly enjoyed your post! Red, gold and green. Red, gold, and green.

  2. Oh that is SO true! I remember trying to teach that to my students. I tend to either put too many (if in doubt) or none at all… LOL 😀 Thanks for the smiles… made me chuckle.

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