
Master the comma by understanding its nuances to improve your writing, self-editing, and critique partnering. Nicole Ayers invites you to discover how mastering this punctuation can transform your writing life.
Have fun celebrating those rules you already know with a song from this playlist. Or choose your favorite celebration tune to groove to.
Before we get started, there are a few terms I want to make sure you're familiar with so that we're speaking the same language.
There are review sheets for "Parts of Speech" and "Phrases and Clauses," which you can print out for a hand reference.
Explore practical, low-stress comma practice with guided observations, manuscript samples, downloadable exercises, and an answer key, focusing on no grades in this course, self-editing, and gradual skill growth.
Note about the 15 Punctuation Marks PDF:
This is the property of the Visual Communication Guy. This is for your personal use only and can't be redistributed, printed, sold, or used for anything else. Please do NOT share on social media.
Master the comma delivers essential, always-use rules across the course's longest module, guiding you to apply reliable comma usage in writing while noting that rules have exceptions and offering practice.
Master the comma rules for dates and numbers, including month–day–year punctuations, day-of-week placement, extra year commas in sentence contexts, and three-digit period breaks in large numbers.
Apply comma rules for greetings and closings in letters and emails, placing a comma after names in salutations like Dear Susan, and after the farewell phrase before the name.
Master the comma rules for places by separating city from state with a comma. Offset middle-sentence state or country with paired commas.
Learn to use commas with repeated words to show emphasis, with examples 'very', 'so', and 'thank you', and review exceptions like 'had had' and 'her her' for clarity.
Identify when not to use a comma and avoid common misplacements. Gain clarity on comma rules to never use and learn where people often add unnecessary pauses.
Explore how introductory conjunctions like and, but, and so may begin sentences, debunking the zombie rule that they require a following comma.
Master the comma: learn that elements like jr., sr., ii, iii stay with the last name, and you do not insert a comma between first names and these name elements.
Master the comma with clear guidance on coordinating versus cumulative adjectives, learn when to use or omit commas in adjective lists, and access practice and resources.
Master the comma explains coordinating adjectives, which are interchangeable and separated by a comma, and cumulative adjectives, which build on one another in a fixed royal order without commas.
Master the comma: learn how appositive phrases add information, distinguish nonrestrictive versus restrictive use, and decide when to use or omit commas to preserve meaning.
Explore how nonrestrictive and restrictive clauses change meaning and comma placement, and learn when to use which versus that for clarity. Apply these rules to distinguish essential from nonessential information.
Learn about the compound predicate, where two predicates share a subject. Decide when a comma before the conjunction is optional to signal a pause, depending on length and style.
Explore terminal too and terminal though, and decide whether to place a comma at sentence end. Emphasize consistency with Chicago style, noting meaning stays unchanged.
Examine participial phrases and their comma rules, especially introductory ones, and learn how participles function and when to place a comma after them.
Master how to fix comma splices by turning two independent sentences into a period, a conjunction, a semicolon, an em-dash, or a single rewritten sentence.
Master the comma through disciplined self-editing: read word by word, complete one pass at a time focused on commas, and rest between drafts using listening and medium changes.
Celebrate completing module 10 by becoming a self-editor and comma master. Share your feedback via the final check-in to improve this course for future learners, then cue the comma playlist.
It’s time to solve all your comma conundrums.
Learn from a word maven extraordinaire who has taught thousands of students, edited hundreds of manuscripts, and written three books of her own.
Do you still question where to put your commas?
Do you randomly throw commas into your manuscript and hope they’re in the right place?
Do you frequently apologize for your commas?
Do you get manuscripts back from editors or critique partners with so many redlines (corrections)?
This is the course for YOU!
You are going to learn when to use commas. When to never use commas. And how to apply all the comma “rules” to your self-editing practice.
Why do you need an e-course about commas?
There are so many reasons!
1. Commas have more uses than any other punctuation mark.
2. Commas are chameleons.
3. Commas allow readers to understand your writing.
4. Commas save lives!
5. Commas do NOT actually indicate a pause.
6. Comma usage can be nuanced.
7. Commas separate words, phrases, and clauses.
8. Commas show you when information is critical for meaning. And when it is not.
9. Comma mastery is the mark of a skilled writer.
Benefits List
Empower yourself as a writer with clear communication.
Mastering comma usage will boost your creativity and give you the freedom to tell the story you’re meant to write.
You’ll have fun playing with commas while you refine your writing style.
You can be confident that your readers won’t get distracted by your comma usage, or lack thereof, even in your earliest drafts.
Become a sought-after critique partner because of your knowledge.
Improve your self-editing skills by learning the ins and outs of comma usage.
What You Will Get
Content is bite sized and easily digestible.
· Video lessons for 20+ comma rules
· Clear examples
· Sample edits with actual manuscripts from real authors
· Multiple ways to practice
What We Will Cover
I’ll teach you WHY commas are chameleons. We’ll also dig into:
· Comma Rules to Always Use
· Comma Rules to Never Use
· Comma Rules to Choose
· And more
Best of all, I’ll teach you how to apply all this new knowledge to dramatically level up your self-editing game.
Who This Is For and Who This Is Not For
This Is For:
· Writers who are serious about improving their craft
· Writers on a budget
· Writers who want clarity on the Chicago Manual of Style’s expectations
· New writers
· Veteran writers
· Writers of short stories, personal essays, and books (fiction and nonfiction)
· Writers who use American English
This Is Not For:
· Writers who don’t care about their readers
· Writers with no interest in growing
· Writers with scads of money to throw at editors for multiple rounds of editing
· Writers who make the Chicago Manual of Style bedtime reading
· Writers who already know all the comma rules and how to use them
· Writers of poetry
Why Learn From Me
I’m a word maven extraordinaire. A client once dubbed me the “Comma Queen.” I know what I’m doing.
I have over twelve years’ experience in classrooms, teaching real live people how to write (and use commas).
I worked for a National Writing Project affiliate and taught other teachers how to teach writing (and use commas).
I’ve been a professional editor for six years, and I’ve seen hundreds of manuscripts and edited millions of words.
I’m friendly and approachable. Some people even think I’m fun.
I’m also a writer, with three books publishing in early 2020, so I know what it feels like to be on the other side of the editing pen.
Teaching writers how to make their work shine is my passion. Let me help you.
FAQs
I’ve never been able to understand how commas work. What makes you different?
I learned about commas in school. Why do I need a course on commas?
Will I have to complete boring practice worksheets?
What do I need to know to do well?
I’m worried that I’m a terrible writer. Are you grading me?
What if I have a question during the course?
What if I can’t attend the LIVE call?
If I fall behind, can I catch up later?
What is your refund policy?
What if I have a writing question that’s not about commas?
Dear Writers,
Now is the time to master the comma so you can save face (no more embarrassing mishaps), time (no more googling “how to use commas”), and money (no more extra rounds of edits). I can’t wait to see you in the course.
Take care,
Nicole Ayers