The Cost of a Comma

Rogers Communications may lose nearly $1 million because of an extra comma in a contract. That is a pretty expensive punctuation mark! Between this and Bush’s remark, the comma sure is making the news a lot lately. Last year, I wrote a column called “Don’t Let a Comma Come Between Us!” In it I argued that Baptists often needlessly divide themselves just like some people—like me—add unnecessary commas in their writings. As with the Rogers Communications case it has cost us a lot. Millions have been wasted on lawsuits or other unnecessary actions. But even worse, relationships have been destroyed and the cause of Christ has been hurt. So much pain from such a little symbol. Kind of reminds me of James 3.