For Want of a Comma

Story★★★★

A wealthy woman who was traveling overseas saw a bracelet she thought was
irresistible, so she sent her husband this cable: “Have found wonderful bracelet. Price
$75,000. May I buy it?” Her husband promptly wired back this response: “No,
price too high.” But the cable operator omitted the comma, so the woman received
the message: “No price too high.”
She bought it.
What a difference a comma made.

The point

A woman's telegram asking "No, price too high" was received as "No price too high" due to a missing comma—she bought the bracelet; one punctuation mark made all the difference.

Audience

Adults

Tone

Humorous

To tell aloud

under a minute · 68 words

Subjects

Consequences Details Communication Attention to Detail Humor

Community

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