Comments on: A Comma Controversy http://steelwhitetable.org/2006/03/26/a-comma-controversy/ It's hard to be religious when certain people are never incinerated by bolts of lightning. Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:03:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: rekounas http://steelwhitetable.org/2006/03/26/a-comma-controversy/comment-page-1/#comment-24461 rekounas Mon, 14 Aug 2006 14:57:53 +0000 http://steelwhitetable.org/blog/2006/03/26/a-comma-controversy/#comment-24461 Commas can cost you millions! <a href="http://www.rekounas.org/index.php/2006/08/13/comma-quirk-irks-rogers/" rel="nofollow">Rogers and Aliant contract</a> Commas can cost you millions!

Rogers and Aliant contract

]]> By: John http://steelwhitetable.org/2006/03/26/a-comma-controversy/comment-page-1/#comment-21221 John Tue, 18 Jul 2006 14:40:26 +0000 http://steelwhitetable.org/blog/2006/03/26/a-comma-controversy/#comment-21221 You're right! oops. But they don't say why. You’re right! oops. But they don’t say why.

]]> By: Jody http://steelwhitetable.org/2006/03/26/a-comma-controversy/comment-page-1/#comment-21178 Jody Mon, 17 Jul 2006 22:08:00 +0000 http://steelwhitetable.org/blog/2006/03/26/a-comma-controversy/#comment-21178 Huh? It says you SHOULD use it: <div class="quote">In a series of three or more terms with a single conjunction, use a comma after each term except the last.</div> I added the emphasize. <div class="quote">red, white, and blue</div> The ”last” being blue. Not that The Elements of Style is the Bible. It just makes sense to me. Huh? It says you SHOULD use it:

In a series of three or more terms with a single conjunction, use a comma after each term except the last.

I added the emphasize.

red, white, and blue

The ”last” being blue.

Not that The Elements of Style is the Bible. It just makes sense to me.

]]> By: John http://steelwhitetable.org/2006/03/26/a-comma-controversy/comment-page-1/#comment-21176 John Mon, 17 Jul 2006 21:51:25 +0000 http://steelwhitetable.org/blog/2006/03/26/a-comma-controversy/#comment-21176 Elements of Style says: do not use the serial comma. http://www.bartleby.com/141/strunk.html#2 Elements of Style says: do not use the serial comma.

http://www.bartleby.com/141/strunk.html#2

]]> By: John http://steelwhitetable.org/2006/03/26/a-comma-controversy/comment-page-1/#comment-20849 John Thu, 13 Jul 2006 19:24:49 +0000 http://steelwhitetable.org/blog/2006/03/26/a-comma-controversy/#comment-20849 I guess you're referring to Elements of Style. I never liked that book. If theres evidence in there, I'll believe it when I see it :) I guess you’re referring to Elements of Style. I never liked that book. If theres evidence in there, I’ll believe it when I see it :)

]]> By: Ashley http://steelwhitetable.org/2006/03/26/a-comma-controversy/comment-page-1/#comment-20842 Ashley Thu, 13 Jul 2006 16:53:03 +0000 http://steelwhitetable.org/blog/2006/03/26/a-comma-controversy/#comment-20842 Dear John, The "unsubstantiated opinion" immediate previous to your comment contains proof; the serial comma eliminates semantic ambiguities. Dear John,

The “unsubstantiated opinion” immediate previous to your comment contains proof; the serial comma eliminates semantic ambiguities.

]]> By: John http://steelwhitetable.org/2006/03/26/a-comma-controversy/comment-page-1/#comment-20840 John Thu, 13 Jul 2006 15:16:01 +0000 http://steelwhitetable.org/blog/2006/03/26/a-comma-controversy/#comment-20840 Where's the evidence that one of these usages is better than the other? I'm just seeing unsubstantiated opinions. Where’s the evidence that one of these usages is better than the other? I’m just seeing unsubstantiated opinions.

]]> By: Ashley http://steelwhitetable.org/2006/03/26/a-comma-controversy/comment-page-1/#comment-9663 Ashley Tue, 28 Mar 2006 01:55:54 +0000 http://steelwhitetable.org/blog/2006/03/26/a-comma-controversy/#comment-9663 The serial comma is correct. For pointing it out, I'd like to thank my parents, Jody and E.B. White. The serial comma is correct. For pointing it out, I’d like to thank my parents, Jody and E.B. White.

]]> By: Phillip http://steelwhitetable.org/2006/03/26/a-comma-controversy/comment-page-1/#comment-9550 Phillip Mon, 27 Mar 2006 15:15:21 +0000 http://steelwhitetable.org/blog/2006/03/26/a-comma-controversy/#comment-9550 Include me with most people. Include me with most people.

]]> By: Pender http://steelwhitetable.org/2006/03/26/a-comma-controversy/comment-page-1/#comment-9544 Pender Mon, 27 Mar 2006 14:34:40 +0000 http://steelwhitetable.org/blog/2006/03/26/a-comma-controversy/#comment-9544 "Most people don’t know any better, anyway, or care." Should that be: "Most people don’t know any better, anyway, nor care." You're the expert, so I assume you're right and I dunno wtf I r talkings aboot. “Most people don’t know any better, anyway, or care.”

Should that be: “Most people don’t know any better, anyway, nor care.”

You’re the expert, so I assume you’re right and I dunno wtf I r talkings aboot.

]]> By: Phillip http://steelwhitetable.org/2006/03/26/a-comma-controversy/comment-page-1/#comment-9542 Phillip Mon, 27 Mar 2006 14:10:22 +0000 http://steelwhitetable.org/blog/2006/03/26/a-comma-controversy/#comment-9542 So you're NOT supposed to use the last comma if you're listing a bunch of stuff? I always used to leave out the last comma before the 'and' in a list. But a newspaper editor told me to always use a comma after 'but' and 'and.' So I go both ways now. Thing is, language evolves usually according to the laws of verbal laziness, or just laziness in general. That's is why Standard American English is beoming standard English, period. They remove all unnecessary letters, and change many words to phonetic spellings (e.g. plow instead of plough; check instead of cheque). The same law of laziness applies to written language, punctuation, all that junk. It's incorrect punctuation until everyone starts doing it. Most people don't know any better, anyway, or care. It's the American way. (Just kidding.) So you’re NOT supposed to use the last comma if you’re listing a bunch of stuff? I always used to leave out the last comma before the ‘and’ in a list. But a newspaper editor told me to always use a comma after ‘but’ and ‘and.’ So I go both ways now.

Thing is, language evolves usually according to the laws of verbal laziness, or just laziness in general. That’s is why Standard American English is beoming standard English, period. They remove all unnecessary letters, and change many words to phonetic spellings (e.g. plow instead of plough; check instead of cheque). The same law of laziness applies to written language, punctuation, all that junk. It’s incorrect punctuation until everyone starts doing it.

Most people don’t know any better, anyway, or care. It’s the American way. (Just kidding.)

]]> By: rekounas http://steelwhitetable.org/2006/03/26/a-comma-controversy/comment-page-1/#comment-9541 rekounas Mon, 27 Mar 2006 13:39:48 +0000 http://steelwhitetable.org/blog/2006/03/26/a-comma-controversy/#comment-9541 I thought it was more an American vs English thing. I always use the serial comma. It's a lot easier to read. I thought it was more an American vs English thing. I always use the serial comma. It’s a lot easier to read.

]]> By: ChrisO http://steelwhitetable.org/2006/03/26/a-comma-controversy/comment-page-1/#comment-9540 ChrisO Mon, 27 Mar 2006 13:17:02 +0000 http://steelwhitetable.org/blog/2006/03/26/a-comma-controversy/#comment-9540 so is the serial comma wrong? because i specifically remember my english teachers all telling me to use it that way. In grade five, seven, and ten! so is the serial comma wrong? because i specifically remember my english teachers all telling me to use it that way.

In grade five, seven, and ten!

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