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YTMND
Joined: 16 Jan 2012
Location: You're the man now dog!!
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 Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 1:59 am Post subject: Grammar - What is the comma rule here? |
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When you list things, how many commas do you need?
"A, B, and C" or "A, B and C"
I am seeing it used both ways, and my students are telling me that they were taught to do "A, B and C" while I have always thought it was supposed to be "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10"
It doesn't matter how many, the last one gets the "and" with a comma before it. It seems like they read another rule "Don't put a comma AFTER the last one" and translated it incorrectly as "Don't put a comma BEFORE the last one".
Is only one of us right? Are both acceptable? |
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FriendlyDaegu
Joined: 26 Aug 2012
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| Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 3:02 am Post subject: |
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| The 'Oxford comma' is optional. |
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Canadian Club
Joined: 12 Aug 2006
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| Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 3:04 am Post subject: |
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| FriendlyDaegu wrote: |
| The 'Oxford comma' is optional. |
That depends on who you ask  |
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FriendlyDaegu
Joined: 26 Aug 2012
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schwa
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Yap
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| Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 3:27 am Post subject: |
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Funny!
Overall I prefer minimal use of commas but when it comes to lists that final comma almost always adds clarity of meaning. Its a style choice, but I think its a good one. |
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andrewchon
Joined: 16 Nov 2008
Location: Back in Oz. Living in ISIS Aust.
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| Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 5:12 am Post subject: |
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I was hounded at a previous job for using British style of punctuation, spelling, accent, manners, or in short: not being American. Considering USA is the primary destination and British Commonwealth nations only an afterthought in Korea, I'd have to go with the latter. 
Let me clarify: latter I meant was less comma style, not USA/UK.
Last edited by andrewchon on Thu Oct 10, 2013 1:54 am; edited 1 time in total |
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YTMND
Joined: 16 Jan 2012
Location: You're the man now dog!!
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| Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 6:13 am Post subject: |
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| andrewchon wrote: |
| I was hounded at a previous job for using British style of punctuation, spelling, accent, manners, or in short: not being American. Considering USA is the primary destination and British Commonwealth nations only an afterthought in Korea, I'd have to go with the latter. |
Now I am confused. The Chicago Manual of Style, 16th Edition 2010 has a table of contents with "7.14 Plurals for letters, abbreviations, and numerals".
If it is the British thing to add the extra comma, why would it be used in the Chicago Manual of Style? |
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robbie_davies
Joined: 16 Jun 2013
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| Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 7:38 am Post subject: |
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"A, B and C"
Surely!  |
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denverdeath
Joined: 21 May 2005
Location: Boo-sahn
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| Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 7:57 am Post subject: |
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According to The Canadian Style(1997), and Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada(1997)...
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| Opinions differ on whether and when a comma should be inserted before the final and or or in a sequence. In keeping with the general trend toward less punctuation, the final comma is best omitted where clarity permits, unless there is a need to emphasize the last element in a series. |
So, your student might be right, and s/he may also be wrong. Har har! I always tell my students that 2 commas are best for a series of 3 elements, especially when you're dealing with an old sk00l nazi, like me; however, 1 comma might suffice.
And, to YTMND, don't forget there's the CM, the MLA, the APA, and etc. The 2 commas in a series of 3 is more old sk00l grammarians' way of doing it, I think... equals my way. However, not everyone is dealing with old sk00l grammarians, and even old sk00l grammarians will likely accept 1 comma for 3 elements as long as you are keeping the same style throughout your paper. |
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transmogrifier
Joined: 02 Jan 2012
Location: Seoul, South Korea
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| Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 2:27 pm Post subject: |
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It's optional. The important thing IMO is to be consistent in your document and rephrase things that may cause confusion when applying the choice you made.
e.g., I invited the twins, Sarah and Kathy.
If you choose to use no comma, then phrases like the one above can be ambiguous. Are the twins named Sarah and Kathy, or did you in fact invite four individuals?
Rewrite: I invited Sarah, Kathy and the twins. OR I invited the twins Sarah and Kathy.
e.g. I invited my sister, Kathy, and Sarah.
Using the comma this time, again there is confusion. Is Kathy my sister, or two different people?
Rewrite: I invited Kathy, Sarah, and my sister. OR I invited Sarah and my sister Kathy.
I prefer to use the comma, but it's just personal choice. Just be consistent. |
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The Cosmic Hum
Joined: 09 May 2003
Location: Sonic Space
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| Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 5:59 pm Post subject: |
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| schwa wrote: |
Funny!
Overall I prefer minimal use of commas but when it comes to lists that final comma almost always adds clarity of meaning. Its a style choice, but I think its a good one. |
That is a funny link Friendly.
Very good style choice Schwa.
If you are teaching this to your students, then there is really no downside.
Your students will always be correct.
Perhaps a bit too formal at times, but always correct.
Transmogrifier...great examples. |
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YTMND
Joined: 16 Jan 2012
Location: You're the man now dog!!
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| Posted: Thu Oct 10, 2013 12:48 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| e.g., I invited the twins, Sarah and Kathy. |
That's different, those two go together. It's not listing, but identifying also.
| Quote: |
| e.g. I invited my sister, Kathy, and Sarah. |
Again, that's not a list.
I was asking about listing. (ex: "I invited Bob, Sarah, and Jim" or "I invited Bob, Sarah and Jim.")
3 distinct separate things or people. |
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drcrazy
Joined: 19 Feb 2003
Location: Pusan. Yes, that's right. Pusan NOT Busan. I ain't never been to no place called Busan
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| Posted: Thu Oct 10, 2013 2:46 am Post subject: |
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| I, simply, love,, commas,,, and, truely,,, believe, that, you, should,,,,, always,, use, as,,, many,, as, possible,,,, and, as ,,such, w,h,e,n,e,v,e,r you, are,,, not sure, if commas, are needed, I, su,,ggest, you, use, them just, to, be,, on, t,he s,afe s,ide, |
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YTMND
Joined: 16 Jan 2012
Location: You're the man now dog!!
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| Posted: Thu Oct 10, 2013 2:51 am Post subject: |
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| Are you sure about this, |
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drcrazy
Joined: 19 Feb 2003
Location: Pusan. Yes, that's right. Pusan NOT Busan. I ain't never been to no place called Busan
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| Posted: Thu Oct 10, 2013 3:22 am Post subject: |
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| YTMND wrote: |
| Are you sure about this, |
Yes, |
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