By Rebecca Lawrence

As an editorial agent, I feel like I should occasionally write about grammar. As someone who grew up slightly dyslexic (I repeated first grade because I couldn’t read — ironically enough), commas were especially hard for me to learn how to use. I remember going up to an English teacher in college and asking her to sum up the comma rules. She responded by recommending I look at a style guide, which wasn’t all that helpful. What I was really asking was: what are the most common comma uses? What’s a hard-and-fast, quick guide? I wanted something like this:

Quick Refresher: Objective Comma Rules (No Debating These)

BUT it turns out, it is not just this simple.

Subjective Commas: The Gray Area of Punctuation

One reason commas can be so tricky? Not all of them follow hard-and-fast rules. Yep — some comma placements are subjective.

Don’t get me wrong: there are plenty of clear, objective comma rules. For instance, a comma (or period) should never go outside quotation marks in American English.

❌ “For example”,
✅ “For example,”

(Yes, this applies to periods too. See CMOS 6.9)

You might think the Oxford comma (the one before and in a list) falls into the subjective category — but according to The Chicago Manual of Style, it’s absolutely recommended. (CMOS 6.19)

Other non-negotiable comma rules include:

• Before coordinating conjunctions joining independent clauses (CMOS 6.22)

• With direct address (CMOS 6.53)

• In dates and addresses (CMOS 6.45–6.46)

• Around quotations (CMOS 6.38–6.39)

• Between coordinate adjectives (CMOS 6.36)

But that’s not why we’re here.
Let’s talk about the squishier side of commas — the subjective stuff.

What Are Subjective Comma Uses?

Subjective comma usage is where things get… well, flexible. It’s about clarity, style, rhythm, and even personal voice. Here are some of the most common areas where writers have a say:

1. Short Introductory Phrases

You can leave out the comma after a short introductory phrase — usually if it's fewer than five words — unless it’s needed for clarity.

Without comma: By noon we were done.
With comma: By noon, we were done.

This one’s up to you. (CMOS 6.31)

2. To Prevent Misreading or Ambiguity

Sometimes, a comma helps your reader understand what you're actually trying to say. Like in the famous—Let’s eat, Grandma!
(Without the comma: Let’s eat Grandma! — eek!)

The choice isn’t about grammar; it’s about avoiding confusion. Sometimes though it is hard to pin down when something can be misread. This is where getting a second option is helpful.

3. Stylistic Pauses or Rhythm

Commas can be used to add a breath or pause, kind of like stage directions for your reader’s voice.

He turned, slowly, and walked away.

This isn’t required, but it adds a certain rhythm or emphasis. If it feels natural in your voice, go for it. Just try not to overuse it.

4. Omitting the Comma Before Short Independent Clauses

Technically, you should use a comma before a coordinating conjunction that links two independent clauses. But if the clauses are short and closely related, you’re allowed to skip it.

I ran and I fell.
(But also correct: I ran, and I fell.)

It’s optional. (CMOS 6.22 Note)

5. Using Commas with Parenthetical Phrases

Sometimes, you add extra information to a sentence — a little aside, a clarification, or a descriptive detail. That’s what we call a parenthetical phrase. It’s not essential to the main point of the sentence, but it adds something extra.

These phrases are usually set off with commas (though dashes or parentheses can work too). The key is that the sentence would still make complete sense without the extra info.

Example: She waited for hours, scanning the horizon, hoping he would return.

You could remove “scanning the horizon” and the sentence would still work:

She waited for hours, hoping he would return.

That’s how you know it’s parenthetical — it’s there for style, rhythm, or added meaning, but it’s not grammatically required.

Use commas to wrap these phrases and help the sentence breathe.

See CMOS 6.31 and 6.48 for more guidance on setting off parenthetical elements.

Commas are the unsung heroes of punctuation. Yes, there are rules, but there’s also room for your style and judgment — especially when it comes to clarity and rhythm.

Mastering commas takes practice, but knowing where you have choices can make the process feel a lot less intimidating.

Tress of the Emerald Sea: A Fairytale Twist on Sanderson’s Epic Style

For several years, Brandon Sanderson has held the crown as my personal favorite author. (Though with the most recent Stormlight Archive book ending on a massive cliffhanger, I might have to demote him to just one of my favorites—With five more books in the series planned, I’m not sure if I’ll can take waiting another 10-15 years for a final resolution.)

But Tress of the Emerald Sea reminded me exactly why I fell in love with his writing in the first place.

This book is whimsical and deeply unique, but at the same time, it’s easy to read. Epic fantasy often asks you to play detective—piecing together magic systems, charting family trees, and juggling lore—but Tress doesn’t weigh you down like that. Instead, it sweeps you along for the ride. The seas themselves are one of the most inventive parts of the book—vast oceans made of spores that shift and react in surprising (and dangerous) ways. It’s clever without being exhausting, charming without being shallow.

The voice of the narrator, the creativity of the setting, and the heart of Tress herself all come together in a story that feels like a modern fairytale. It’s cozy and warm, but still carries that unmistakable Sanderson depth and spark.

If you’ve ever wanted to dip into fantasy without the pressure of a thousand-page tome or the feeling of homework-level analysis, Tress of the Emerald Sea is the perfect entry point. And if you’re already a Sanderson fan? You’ll find a new side of him here—lighter, but no less brilliant.

Blurb

A quiet island girl. A stolen friend. An ocean with filled with spores.

Tress has lived her whole life on a lonely rock in the Emerald Sea, content with simple pleasures—collecting cups brought by passing sailors and listening to the stories of her dearest friend, Charlie. But when Charlie is taken by the dreaded Sorceress of the Midnight Sea, Tress’s sheltered world shatters.

Determined to save him, she stows away aboard a ship and sails into oceans unlike any other—seas made of spores, where a single drop of water can unleash instant death. Each spore sea brings new perils: vines that strangle ships, crystalline forests that erupt from the waves, and pirates who rule with cutlasses and cunning.

Among a ragtag crew of misfits, Tress learns to survive as a sprouter, turning the seas’ dangers into weapons. Her courage grows with every trial, from fending off raiders to outwitting cursed monsters. All the while, the voice of a mysterious storyteller—Hoid—guides her journey with wit and wonder.

If you have a topic that you think I should write about or you want to write an article for us, email me at [email protected] with your bio and topic. We’re always looking for fresh perspectives.

Of course, authors or industry professionals if you want to write about something email me!

Authors, do you want to submit a book to us?

Check us out at the Booker Albert website.

Happy reading,
Rebecca Lawrence