Put That Comma Where Your Mouth Is

It seems like a tiny thing, but double commas can change the meaning of a phrase, or even a sentence.

Double commas replace: "which is" or "who is."

Examples:

"The United States' president, Barack Obama, loves walks in the park and hitchhiking," is correct. He is the only one, therefore, there should be commas.

"John's cat Missy went for a walk." This means John has more than one cat.

"Austin, Texas, is a great place to work." This is a big one. Provinces, states, etc., call for double commas.

Commas aren't just preference. They are punctuation, and even grammar, it can be argued. They can be used for emphasis. They are wonderful tools when in the right hands.