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Power of the Comma

February 16, 2006 By Joe Rawlinson

The vending machine in our break room at work has a piece of paper taped over the dollar bill acceptor. It reads:

Snack Machine Coin Only
Sorry Sodexho

Sodexho is the company that manages food services here at my employer’s campus.

If you read the note without the comma, it could be construed as derogatory and critical of Sodexho. It might as well read: “Stupid Sodexho.” However, if you throw in the comma, the note reads a little more gracefully:

Snack Machine Coin Only
Sorry,
Sodexho

The fact that the note has been in place for quite some time is another disturbing issue. Remember that customer’s problems are your problems and that your company should work quickly to rectify any problem situations.

Fix the problem and the sign could then read well even without a comma:

Snack Machine Fixed
Stellar Sodexho

Use the Comma

Make sure you use the comma for more than just writing copy in your business. The comma is often used to indicate a pause. Use that effect in your daily business operations and pause to see what you could do to improve the customer experience.

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