"Well water comes from the sky." versus
"Well, water comes from the sky."
Ever since seeing that horrid example of the misuse of grammar, I vowed to never abuse the comma. I’ve lived fearing comma negligence as though it would elicit earthquakes and typhoons and volcanic eruptions of apocalyptic proportions. (If there existed a god of corn and grain, then surely the Greeks must’ve had a very angry god of punctuation.)
But I see ordinary citizens, people like you and me, abusing the comma left and right, frequently omitting it where due. And comma negligence just one example. Let’s not even delve into "your" vs. "you’re." I thought everyone learned how to distinguish between those two back in sixth grade. Come on, people. Let’s maintain the integrity and intelligence of the internet. (...)
An English teacher told me that when in doubt, use a comma. Using a comma where it shouldn’t be is a less serious offense than omitting it where necessary. Commas are meant to signify pauses, so if you’re using a comma where it doesn’t belong, then the worst that can happen is that it breaks up your thoughts and slows down your reading a little. Contrast that to having your thoughts running into one another, and it’s obvious that sacrificing a millisecond for the sake of clarity is the better choice.
This grammar and punctuation abuse must stop. Therefore, this I plead to the internet: "proofread." Learn it, love it, live it.