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Syncletica
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| Posted: Oct 13 2010 at 5:08pm | IP Logged
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I'm confused - I've read that when separating 3 or more items in a sentence, you don't use a comma after the last word that is before the 'and'.
For example: We had turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, mixed veggies, stuffing and salad for supper.
No comma after 'stuffing'. Yet, in my reading lately, quite a few times I read sentences with the comma before the 'and'. "...mixed veggies, stuffing, and salad for supper."
Is there a correct rule? Or does differ between nations? Or..? Does anyone know?
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lapazfarm
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According to Strunk and White (the style book I use) you do not use a comma before the final item in a series.
I think it is the old fashioned style to use the additional comma, and has been streamlined in modern usage.
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KC in TX
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| Posted: Oct 13 2010 at 6:26pm | IP Logged
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I have another question.
If you say:
My brother David...
do you put a comma before David like I was taught or not as my husband was taught? Does Strunk and White have these comma rules? If not, what's the best place to find these rules?
ETA: It probably wouldn't have bothered me too much except my dh insulted my Texas upbringing. 
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: Oct 13 2010 at 7:24pm | IP Logged
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From Strunk and White, via my interpretation:
Depends on if it is used in a restrictive or nonrestrictive way.
Ex:
My brother David is a talented harpist. (restrictive)
My brother, David, sings.(non-restrictive)
In the first case the use is restrictive if you are distinguishing him from your other brothers (who perhaps sing or play accordion).
In the second sentence the use is non-restrictive because you are merely adding additional info (my brother, whose name happens to be David,...)not making a distinction.
You would not, however, use only a single comma (before or after). Gotta have them before and after or not at all.
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Theresa
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lapazfarm
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And the only reason I know this stuff at all is that I am boning up on my grammar lately in preparation for ds's essay writing workshop I'm putting together!Otherwise I'd be clueless! 
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Erin
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| Posted: Oct 13 2010 at 11:36pm | IP Logged
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Syncletica wrote:
I'm confused - I've read that when separating 3 or more items in a sentence, you don't use a comma after the last word that is before the 'and'.....
Is there a correct rule? Or does differ between nations? Or..? Does anyone know? |
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It does differ between nations, I notice you are Canadian so therefore I'm assuming you use the British spelling, grammar, punctuation??
If so under the British 'rules' you certainly don't put that comma there.
Americans are big on commas and hypens too. Ask me how I know, when helping my fellow mods here with re-wording I had to "adjust"  (Bet they are laughing at me now  ) Truly though, through that I learnt there are lots of differences.
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guitarnan
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| Posted: Oct 13 2010 at 11:41pm | IP Logged
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According to Associated Press style you don't use a comma after the final item in a series.
I was taught to put the comma there, long ago in a Catholic school far, far away, so I've had to retrain myself to leave it out.
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DominaCaeli
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| Posted: Oct 14 2010 at 10:51am | IP Logged
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Just wanted to add that although placing a comma before the final item in a series is going out of style, there are a few style guides that still suggest it. I am loathe to give it up because I think it is useful for clarity in lots of cases (there are some good examples on the Wiki entry on the topic).
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JennGM
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| Posted: Oct 14 2010 at 7:57pm | IP Logged
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Erin wrote:
Syncletica wrote:
I'm confused - I've read that when separating 3 or more items in a sentence, you don't use a comma after the last word that is before the 'and'.....
Is there a correct rule? Or does differ between nations? Or..? Does anyone know? |
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It does differ between nations, I notice you are Canadian so therefore I'm assuming you use the British spelling, grammar, punctuation??
If so under the British 'rules' you certainly don't put that comma there.
Americans are big on commas and hypens too. Ask me how I know, when helping my fellow mods here with re-wording I had to "adjust" (Bet they are laughing at me now ) Truly though, through that I learnt there are lots of differences. |
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I thought Lynn Truss said Americans underuse them?
I do use lots of commas, and like Celeste said, I'm loathe to give them up. I tend to think that extra comma before and isn't wrong, and I still use it.
I remember learning the extra comma, then having to "unlearn it" in later years, then I was taught that it was making a comeback and was optional.
But then again, I like to spell it judgement.
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DominaCaeli
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| Posted: Oct 14 2010 at 8:03pm | IP Logged
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JennGM wrote:
| But then again, I like to spell it judgement. |
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Blessings,
Celeste
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Devoted21
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| Posted: Oct 14 2010 at 8:54pm | IP Logged
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Syncletica wrote:
I'm confused - I've read that when separating 3 or more items in a sentence, you don't use a comma after the last word that is before the 'and'.
For example: We had turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, mixed veggies, stuffing and salad for supper.
No comma after 'stuffing'. Yet, in my reading lately, quite a few times I read sentences with the comma before the 'and'. "...mixed veggies, stuffing, and salad for supper."
Is there a correct rule? Or does differ between nations? Or..? Does anyone know? |
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Oh, it makes my heart happy to see a whole thread about commas! Former copy editor here.
I think the question's been answered at this point, but I'll add my two cents, just to prolong the conversation.  I've edited publications that follow both Associated Press style and Chicago style, and there are lots of things that are different, including certain comma rules. Neither way is wrong; you just need to pick a way and be consistent. You wouldn't want to write a paper that goes back and forth - THAT would be wrong. 
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CatholicMommy
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| Posted: Oct 18 2010 at 2:31pm | IP Logged
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A friend of mine uses a curriculum for his daughters that specifically states specific topics where commas should be used in a series (before the "and") - colors and musical instruments stand out for me and I thought there was a 3rd one too....
I respect that this is their curriculum, but it sounds odd to me. Anyone have any ideas on this one?
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hylabrook1
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I have heard that comma before "and" in a list or series referred to as the"Oxford comma." That's struck me as funny in a way, because most British books I"ve read tend not to place a comma there. I was taught that either way is correct. Personally, I put it in because in some particular lists it is confusing to leave it out. "At the store we bought milk, tomatoes, bread, and butter" vs. "....bread and butter", which suggests that there is a single product called "bread and butter". Not the best example, but I'm sure you all have encountered things like that. Of course I also tend to follow rules like placing a comma after a *noun of direct address" or before a subordinating conjunction. I am also very big on appositives, which often are not set off by commas anymore. So, I'm sure there are lots of people who would say I over-use commas, but I feel that I can justify each one (as if someone would really want to know the justification... ).
Peace,
Nancy
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4Real Forums : Language Arts Come Alive
Topic: comma rule?
