Bikinis and Commas!^©
by Rennie
June 2004

I want to tell you a little story about an itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini!

A friend and I were watching TV one evening, and a commercial came on that was playing that song. It showed a picture of a bikini that was yellow with pink polka dots. My friend said, "Hey! That bikini doesn't have yellow polka dots!" I thought for a minute and said, "Yes, but the song must be saying, 'yellow COMMA polka dot bikini.'"

The bikini was yellow.
The bikini had polka dots.

Two separate items there. Therefore, a comma would be in order.

Now, if the bikini had had yellow polka dots, there would be no comma because "yellow" would be building on "polka dots." A yellow polka dot bikini is very different from a yellow, polka dot bikini. Make sense?!

This is a difficult concept for everyone! Even though I think I understand it, I still often have to stop and scratch my head! ;)