The Comma

The humble comma is the loveliest of all the forms of punctuation, at least in written English. Unlike the dogmatic apostrophe, its usage is flexible and allows for creativity. Like any other punctuation mark, it provides clarity if used properly, but it can be used with more panache than many of its brethren. A simple comma dropped into a line causes the text to flow off the page and into not only the reader's eyes but their ears as well. The comma provides audible pauses in written language.
Not only that, but it is subtle too. It doesn't jump around waving its arms in the air like the exclamation mark does. The lovely comma sits politely near the bottom of the line, allowing your eyes to skim over it, but providing an essential service.

If I were a punctuation mark, I would like to be the lovely comma.
Thus, my blog.

I would like to possess the comma's qualities of creativity, flexibility, subtlety and panache.
Alas, our only similarity is loveliness.