We use fewer commas now than in centuries past. Some eighteenth century writers, annoy me by putting commas between the subject and verb of a sentence, as I did here. Yuck. Here’s a sentence I found in a concert review from an 1833 newspaper. Apparently the trombonist was the best musician in a bad orchestra. Aren’t you glad no one writes like this any more? We can ourselves vouch, that when the Instrumentalists, on Thursday evening, were, in the Sinfonia, which commenced the second part, all awry, he pulled them together in the most admirable style, and ceased not until he had put them safely under the leader’s control.