"Let's eat, guys!" has a very different meaning to, "Let's eat guys!"

Here are a few more examples which demonstrate the importance of commas....

1) "Cooking her family and her dog."

First up, here's a headline on the cover of Tails magazine, a magazine for dog lovers, which would definitely benefit from a comma...


"Rachael Ray finds inspiration in cooking her family and her dog."

Credit: The Language Nerds

2) Very specific toilet users

Only a very limited section of the public can use this toilet...


"Toilet only for disabled elderly pregnant children."

I have to admit, I don't know many disabled elderly pregnant children!

3) "Beware of wasps stinging insects."

Wasps can be nasty bullies, stinging other insects...

Those mean wasps. Stinging those insects and their nests. #Grammar #Ants #Wasps #FunnySigns #CommasAreImportant pic.twitter.com/xUncfnniIK

— Scott (@shofacke) August 30, 2015

4) Introductions, or instructions to steal?

Placement of commas is especially important when introducing staff to each other...

"Alan our security guard, Rob our manager."

Hopefully Alan wasn't a thief and ignored the instruction to rob their manager, but for future reference...

"Alan, our security guard. Rob, our manager."

...would have been the safer option when introducing Alan and Rob to each other.

5) Advice for hunters...

Please use caution when hunting pedestrians!


I think that was supposed to read, "Hunters, please use caution when hunting, pedestrians using walk trails."

At least I hope that's what it was supposed to say!

6) "Help a thief!"

Be especially careful when issuing instructions to the grammar police...


As a reminder:

Help, a thief! = Help me! I've been robbed by a thief!
Help a thief! = Give assistance to a thief.

Credit: Buttersafe

7) Non-conventional methods of consuming alcohol are not allowed

This is a sign from a park in Bangkok...

"No smoking alcohol."

I wasn't aware that you could smoke alcohol?

8) New Year confusion

Finally, Adam will have to be especially careful when wishing his wife a happy new year...

Adam: "Happy New Year's Eve."
Eve: "That was yesterday."




If you have two minutes to kill blog readers, check out my follow up article on commas:
Commas are important (part 2)

Oops, that should have read, 'If you have two minutes to kill, blog readers, check out my follow up article on commas.'