Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin.
This afternoon we will be discussing the use of the comma (,) in the English language. By following just a few simple guidelines, you'll be writing better stories and giving the Story Verifiers fewer headaches in no time. Throughout, please observe my own use of the comma as an additional example of correct usage.
General Use
The comma is mainly used to break up sentences into smaller, digestible sections without fragmenting it into many short sentences. This has the effect of prompting the reader to pause momentarily as one would when speaking. When proofreading something you have written, place a comma in the places where you instinctively pause; this method will rarely fail you.
Example
I pushed his face into my moist pussy, forcing his tongue in deeper, smothering him with my womanly wetness.
Notice how the commas improve the fluidity of the sentence (no pun intended). Try reading it as though it had no commas. Now imagine it read,
I pushed his face into my moist pussy. I forced his tongue in deeper. I smothered him with my womanly wetness.
Although there is technically nothing wrong with it written like that, I think you'll all agree that my original sentence has a much better "feel" to it.
Lists
When writing a list, one should almost always use commas to do so. There are few things that irritate a Story Mod more than a sentence with the word 'and' in it twelve times. We could be talking about a list of nouns, a list of verbs, a list of adjectives or just about any other kind of list you can think of; the comma will work nine times out ten.
Example 1
I went to the Lush Store yesterday to buy a leather whip, steel handcuffs, a massive tub o' lube and a shiny new butt plug.
Such a list should typically have 'and' or 'or' before the last item on it. Again, the key is to read it through and insert commas where there is a natural rest.
Example 2
He ran his tongue up my outer lips, swirled it around my throbbing clit and then nibbled gently, sending me to a new world of ecstasy. I was squirming, writhing, thrusting and screaming all at once.
This second example shows how the comma can be used to describe a sequence of events and then again, in the second sentence, to list verbs.
There are other ways to more complex things with lists but this should suffice for now.
Subordinate Clauses
Another common way to use the comma is to insert sub-sentences which give additional information. This works in a similar way to parentheses without the implication that what is contained within is somehow an aside. When you use the comma in this way, an easy way to check if it is correct is by removing the section between the commas. If the sentence still makes sense then you're fine.
Example
He lowered his shorts to reveal the biggest, and I mean biggest, cock this side of the Atlantic. He grabbed it in one hand and, grinning at the amazement on my face, shoved it forcefully into my mouth.
I find this can be a nice little technique to enhance the quality of your writing. However, be careful not to overdo it.
Before Conjunctions
When a conjunction ('and', 'but', 'or', etc.) separates two independent clauses (parts of a sentence that can stand alone as a sentence in their own right), a comma usually precedes it. Such a comma may not be necessary for simple sentences.
Example 1
She came over to the house to watch the film with me, but it took me a full hour to build up the courage to jump her bones.
Notice the comma before 'but' because, "She came over to the house to watch the film with me," and, "It took me a full hour to build up the courage to jump her bones," are independent clauses. On the other hand...
Example 2
She came over and we fucked like crazy.
In this case, because the sentence is not in the least complicated, one needn't necessarily place a comma before 'and'.
In Speech
This is something which is commonly done incorrectly (and really gets up my nose). If you are writing a piece which includes dialogue, please make sure it is punctuated correctly. There are several other resources on Lush Stories which you can use for this, as well as many all over the interwebs. I cannot go into great depth here but I will give one explanatory example.
Example
"Drop your drawers," he ordered, smirking, "And give me a taste of that sweet, tender pussy."
Take note of where I have placed the commas. For more on formatting dialogue, click HERE.
That concludes today's lesson. If you're all very good boys and girls, I might do one on the mysterious semi-colon (one of my favourite pieces of punctuation and sadly often mis- or under-used).
Have a nice day.
Clumeleon
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You did get it right - I think !!
