Comments on: MM: Comma, Comma, Comma Chameleon…

By: Lori

Lori — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 13:00:01 +0000

I’ve often struggled with the serial comma issue. Trained in AP Style, I would always drop it. But too many people have made a solid case for it, so I’ve been known to revert to it when I’m feeling all proper.

Lori’s last blog post..Speak Up Already!

By: Punctuality Rules! » Blog Archive » National Punctuation Day Plus One

Punctuality Rules! » Blog Archive » National Punctuation Day Plus One — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 02:26:05 +0000

[...] Comma, Comma, Comma Chameleon [...]

By: Wanda

Wanda — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 19:05:25 +0000

The funny thing is I learned the opposite of Laura, to not include the comma before the final element. Now I have to rethink it.

By: Dawn

Dawn — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 21:52:25 +0000

“To be, or not to be: that is the question: [...]” (Hamlet, 3.1.64)

Sorry to be pedantic concerning your typo (the missing “or”). Otherwise, an excellent post! “To use a comma, or not to use a comma” continues to be one of the most exasperating grammatical issues. (I, too, love your post’s title.)

By: J

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 17:48:59 +0000

I’m glad to hear you say it’s more correct to have the comma before the final element in a series, because that’s how I learned it, and I don’t want to go around changing my ways.

So much of grammar, for me, is about whether things sound right or not. So it makes sense for a comma to indicate where a breath would come in a sentence. I am grateful that my mom nagged me enough during my childhood, that I have at least some semblance of an ear for grammar.

Too bad they don’t make an ear for spelling. Or if they do, I sure didn’t get it!

By: Laura

Laura — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 14:46:30 +0000

The best part about this post is the title: creative, with appropriate use of commas! It’s been a while since I thought of Boy George, and now I can’t get that MTV video out of my head …