Why Are Commas Vanishing from English Writing?

The Great Comma Disappearance Is Changing Written English

From court rulings to memorials, missing commas are rewriting the rules of punctuation. Experts warn the shift could blur meaning forever.

The Great Comma Disappearance Is Changing Written English

A small but significant change is appearing in written English—commas are going missing. These aren't just any commas, but the ones that set off extra details in sentences, like years or locations. The problem has spread from legal papers to news reports and even memorial inscriptions, leaving experts puzzled. The issue first gained attention when a CNN news crawl read: 'A judge in Alexandria, Virginia ruled yesterday that...' without the second comma after Virginia. That missing mark should have separated the location from the rest of the sentence. Similarly, the Freedom Tower's cornerstone inscription omits a comma in: 'To honor and remember those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001 and as a tribute...' where one should follow 2001.

This isn't a new mistake. Since the 1990s, German official documents have dropped such commas under the influence of English styles, digital editing tools, and guides like the Duden pushing for lighter punctuation. Supporters argue it speeds up writing and matches spoken rhythms. Yet in English, no major grammar book or style guide approves skipping the second comma in these cases. The problem now appears everywhere—court filings, news stories, and books. Even the *Columbia Journalism Review*'s daily newsletter has noted the trend. Some, like a police dispatcher in a humorous plea, have called for the 'recapture and replacement' of these escaped commas, recognisable by their downward curves.

The missing commas create real confusion. Without them, sentences can become ambiguous or harder to parse. While some styles encourage fewer marks for simplicity, the rules for parenthetical commas remain clear—both marks are still required to keep meaning intact.