Importance of the Comma by Forbes Phillips

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 18, 1913

Importance of the Comma

By Forbes Phillips

EARLY in the world's history, philosophers urged upon their generation the necessity of considering small things. The comma is about the smallest thing in practical life, but it is far from being the least important. In a domestic difficulty, where a husband and wife quarreled and sought separation, a legal gentleman was kind enough to try to patch up a peace. He recommended overtures from the husband, and suggested that he write to his spouse the simple and touching message: “May Heaven cherish and keep you, from your affectionate husband John.” This John duly despatched on a picture post-card, but he omitted the comma, and the message ran: “May Heaven cherish and keep you from your affectionate husband John.”

The misplacing of a comma involved two big commercial houses in a lawsuit. A memorandum was sent: “Can let you have the hundred pieces at sixteen and nine, thousand more at same rate.” When the message arrived, it read: “Can let you have the hundred pieces at sixteen, and nine thousand more at same rate.” A careless clerk had transposed a comma, unconscious of the part it was destined to play.

Clerics are fond of quoting the aphorism, “For one point Raynhard lost his only priory.” According to the story, in pre-Reformation days a good and holy prior, Clement, ruled over his religious house with great wisdom and liberality. Over the entrance to the priory he caused to be written:— “Be open evermore, O thou my door, To none be shut, to honest or to poor.” This free invitation was generously interpreted by the mendicants, and people came from far and wide to honor it. When the good Clement died, a very different man was appointed as his successor, a priest by the name of Raynhard, who was as niggardly as his predecessor had been lavish. The sign over the entrance of the priory did not interpret his sentiments or his outlook on life. His meanness could not tolerate it, nor would it permit him to go to the expense of a fresh motto. He simply changed the meaning by altering the position of a comma, which made the couplet read:—

“Be open evermore, O thou my door, To none, be shut to honest or to poor.”

At a dinner in New York a well-known man gave the toast, “Woman—without her, man is a brute.” A paper reported Mr. — as saying, “Woman without her man is a brute.”

Most people have heard of the message, “Don’t come too late,” which by the insertion of a comma, became, “Don’t come, too late.” Then there was the barber who advertised on his signboard:— “What do you think I’ll shave you for nothing And give you a drink.” Of course, there was a rush of customers at once; but the barber’s rendering was:— “What! Do you think I’ll shave you for nothing And give you a drink?”

Care has to be exercised in noticing the comma when reading. There is the case of the curate who had to give out the notice, “A sailor, going to sea, his wife desires the prayers of the congregation.” But when the nervous curate gave out the notice, the congregation was startled by being informed that “a sailor going to see his wife, desires the prayers of the congregation.”—Forbes Phillips, in Answers.