So what happened to the comma in this process? Well, between the 16th century and the present day, it became a kind of scary grammatical sheepdog. As we shall shortly see, the comma has so many jobs as a separator {punctuation marks are traditionally either separators or terminators} that it tears about on the hillside of language, endlessly organising words into sensible groups and making them stay put: sorting and dividing; circling and herding; and of course darting off with a peremptory woof to round up any wayward subordinate clause that makes a futile bolt for semantic freedom.
The evolution of the comma since the 16th century has transformed it into a crucial element of grammar, often seen as a formidable presence in writing. Rather than merely serving as a punctuation mark, it has taken on multiple roles, acting as a separator to organize words into coherent groups. The comma diligently sorts and divides elements within sentences, ensuring clarity and structure in language.
This punctuation mark is likened to a vigilant shepherd, maintaining order among words and phrases. With its numerous functions, it corrals wayward subordinate clauses that might attempt to stray from their intended meaning, highlighting the comma's importance in achieving precise communication and comprehension within the text.
