Communicating in gags - made sense, surprisingly (7,1,7)

I believe the answer is:

sending a message

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'communicating' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'in gags made sense surprisingly' is the wordplay.
'surprisingly' indicates an anagram.
'in'+'gags'+'made'+'sense'='ingagsmadesense'
'ingagsmadesense' anagrammed gives 'SENDING A MESSAGE'.

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I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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