Comma Chameleon

The Power of And. The key to great improv: Yes and . . .

Bread & Cup, Beaker & Flask, Abe & Arthur's, Pies & Thighs, Pies & Pints

I say it is time for another punctuation mark to get some respect. The comma is really great. So very useful.

Naturally, it has all the handy functions in grammar, which yields the metaphorical applications. There's the pause (some mumbo-jumbo about how taking a break and slowing down is even more important in our break neck paced modern society. "The Sabbath is God's comma.") It frames ideas in a supportive and elucidating fashion that a period just can't pull off. Then there's the meaning that it adds through its pacing of words: Eats, Shoots, and Leaves; "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." I even like how it sets off who's speaking or being addressed or the tone/mood/feel of the subsequent sentence (see first sentence of paragraph).