The Importance of the Serial Comma

Waski_the_Squirrel

Waski_the_Squirrel

Resident of the least visited state in the nation.
English teachers still debate this, but Merle Haggard (see below) has the final word. In short, which of these should we write:

My favorite colors are red, blue and green.
My favorite colors are red, blue, and green.

The latter uses the serial comma. The English teachers at my school say that the first is correct. Read the caption under this picture of Merle Haggard and see what you think.

waits.jpg
 
i vaguely recall the same thing as the English teachers.

A, B, C, and D .... is not correct

A, B, C and D ... is correct.
 
"Among those interviewed were his to ex-wives, Kris Kristofferson and Robert Duvall" is correct. A comma before the word "and" would be incorrect.
 
Waski I read that as Merle Haggard's two ex wives were Kris Kristoferson and Robert Duvall. The serial comma should have been used.

It should read "Among those interviewed were his two ex wives, Kris Kristoferson, and Robert Duvall".
 
Many colleges use the Harbrace Essentials for Literature/Writing in 100 and 200 classes. As the title suggests, really does get to the essentials of usage for a college writing course. It includes basics on grammar, punctuation, writing theory, and style. In addition, the text contains an updated (as of 2012) style guide appendix essential to forming proper citation. According to this manual the serial comma must be used in a series. I assure you my son lost points on an essay when not doing so.
I guess it depends on the teacher and the guides they use. :dunno
 
ShoeDiva said:
Many colleges use the Harbrace Essentials for Literature/Writing in 100 and 200 classes. As the title suggests, really does get to the essentials of usage for a college writing course. It includes basics on grammar, punctuation, writing theory, and style. In addition, the text contains an updated (as of 2012) style guide appendix essential to forming proper citation. According to this manual the serial comma must be used in a series. I assure you my son lost points on an essay when not doing so.
I guess it depends on the teacher and the guides they use. :dunno
Click to expand...
The things they teach young 'uns nowadays ...
 
naturegirl said:
Waski I read that as Merle Haggard's two ex wives were Kris Kristoferson and Robert Duvall. The serial comma should have been used.

It should read "Among those interviewed were his two ex wives, Kris Kristoferson, and Robert Duvall".
Click to expand...
Yep!
 
I use both ways. In legal briefs, we use a comma before the "and" when we are separating items - I've always called it the Oxford comma though. However, in correspondence, we often omit the last comma.
 
naturegirl said:
Waski I read that as Merle Haggard's two ex wives were Kris Kristoferson and Robert Duvall. The serial comma should have been used.

It should read "Among those interviewed were his two ex wives, Kris Kristoferson, and Robert Duvall".
Click to expand...

:thumbsup
 
I'm Floored said:
naturegirl said:
Waski I read that as Merle Haggard's two ex wives were Kris Kristoferson and Robert Duvall. The serial comma should have been used.

It should read "Among those interviewed were his two ex wives, Kris Kristoferson, and Robert Duvall".
Click to expand...

:thumbsup
Click to expand...

Or, for clarity, it should have said, "Among those interviewed were Kris Kristoferson, Robert Duval, and his two ex wives."
 
LisaC said:
I'm Floored said:
naturegirl said:
Waski I read that as Merle Haggard's two ex wives were Kris Kristoferson and Robert Duvall. The serial comma should have been used.

It should read "Among those interviewed were his two ex wives, Kris Kristoferson, and Robert Duvall".
Click to expand...

:thumbsup
Click to expand...


Or, for clarity, it should have said, "Among those interviewed were Kris Kristoferson, Robert Duval, and his two ex wives."
Click to expand...

:thumbsup
 
Blazing Saddles said:
The serial comma should always be used. The word "and" is not a replacement for a comma.
Click to expand...

That's what I was taught but it's not so today. When I worked at IBM in the word processing center, I was told not to use the serial comma. :eek:
 
Blazing Saddles said:
The serial comma should always be used. The word "and" is not a replacement for a comma.
Click to expand...

Actually, in journalism, it is discouraged because of space. And, going back to my Business English class, we were taught not to use it in correspondence (which is why I don't). But, that was a few years ago.
 
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