Few characters feel the sting of misunderstanding more keenly than superheroes. One tiny detail out of place could mean the difference between saving Gotham City and mass chaos. Though life-or-death situations may not hinge on our e-mails or web copy, miscommunication can cost us and our businesses dearly. Thankfully, Batman is here to teach us how to handle punctuation’s trickiest super-gadget: the comma.

Lists

Generally speaking, the comma’s function is to separate parts of a sentence for clarity. We see this most often in written lists. Rules for lists vary between style guides, but the best way to play it safe is opting for the Oxford (aka serial) comma. The Oxford comma separates every item in a series. Omitting it can result in confusion.

Without Oxford comma

Poison Ivy, Scarecrow, The Joker and Riddler are some of Batman’s most famous opponents.

With Oxford comma

Poison Ivy, Scarecrow, The Joker, and Riddler are some of Batman’s most famous opponents.

It is unclear in the first list if The Joker and Riddler are the same character. With the Oxford comma separating their names in the second example, it is clear that these are two distinct enemies.

Joining Clauses

Commas should always precede coordinating conjunctions. Coordinating conjunctions are words that link the clauses of a sentence (e.g. and, so, but, yet).

Incorrect

Two independent clauses separated by a comma but no coordinating conjunction is called a comma splice:

Batman cares for Gotham’s citizens, Alfred Pennyworth cares for him.

Linking two independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction but no comma:

Batman cares for Gotham’s citizens and Alfred Pennyworth cares for him.

Without both a comma and a coordinating conjunction, it is unclear how the independent clauses are related.

Correct

Batman cares for Gotham’s citizens, and Alfred Pennyworth cares for him.

The comma with coordinating conjunction shows us how the two clauses of the sentence are related.

Extra Details

Commas should also be used to set apart any information that is nonessential to a sentence. Extra information in the middle of a sentence is called a parenthetical element. For example:

Lucius Fox, an employee of Wayne Enterprises, supplies Batman with equipment for fighting crime.

If the parenthetical element were removed, we would still know that Lucius Fox supplies Batman’s equipment.

When extra details come at the beginning of a sentence, it is called an introductory element:

An employee of Wayne Enterprises, Lucius Fox supplies Batman with equipment for fighting crime.

The introductory rule applies to conjunctive adverbs as well (e.g. furthermore, therefore, likewise, in addition, subsequently, on the other hand). For example:

Detective James Gordon’s showed integrity despite government corruption. Consequently, he was promoted to Commissioner Gordon of Gotham PD.

Descriptions

Coordinate adjectives (words describing the same noun) should usually be separated by commas. When in doubt, place a comma anywhere you could use and or but. For example, you could say:

The death-defying and acrobatic feats Dick Grayson learned in the circus made him a valuable sidekick.

Since both adjectives describe the same feats, you can replace the conjunction with a comma:

The death-defying, acrobatic feats Dick Grayson learned in the circus made him a valuable sidekick.

Use commas to separate phrases of contrast such as these:

Dr. Harleen Quinnzel was a straight-laced psychiatrist, but turned into the anarchic Harley Quinn.

It was Bruce Wayne's compassion, not his thirst for justice, that led him to take on Dick Grayson as a ward.

Cardinal Rule

Just as you could never successfully separate the sides of Two-Face, never use a solitary comma to separate a subject from its verb.

Incorrect

In relation to his wife, Mr. Freeze’s heroic love and devotion, make him a formidable villain.

Correct

In relation to his wife, Mr. Freeze’s heroic love and devotion make him a formidable villain.

Learning how to use commas properly can save us from becoming our own worst enemies. What other punctuation and grammar gadgets would you like to master? Comment below!

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Batman’s Guide to Comma Usage

Megan L. Anderson

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