As a matter of interest, are there any Americans here opposed to the serial comma? I don't use it; it's simply not the standard in Australia. From my perspective it's just part of the list of American freakiness, like the attachment to Imperial measurements (despite the national mythology being tied up in an act of revolt against the British Empire), a random loss of vowels, a willingness to use peanut butter for anything short of a personal lubricant, an apparent loss of fine motor skills in your left hand whenever you pick up a fork, and the governership of Illinois. (As you will note, this list of American freakiness does indeed include the serial comma.)
Well, look at you. All dressed up in big sister's clothes.
Faith ,'End of Days'
Delurking 1: Because we don't always check our e-mail.
billytea - Oct 05, 2009 6:53:41 pm PDT #610 of 3094
You were a wrong baby who grew up wrong. The wrong kind of wrong. It's better you hear it from a friend.
meara - Oct 05, 2009 6:55:33 pm PDT #611 of 3094
I have stayed with PixKristin! At your old tiny IKEA-riffic cottage in LA!
Pix - Oct 05, 2009 6:56:56 pm PDT #612 of 3094
We're all getting played with, babe. -Weird Barbie
That's right!! I couldn't remember if we'd ever actually stayed at one another's places or just stayed adjacent. Ima go back and edit.
megan walker - Oct 05, 2009 6:58:25 pm PDT #613 of 3094
"What kind of magical sunshine and lollipop world do you live in? Because you need to be medicated."-SFist
That reminds me, I need to upload and send you guys the picture of us in my sleep cave!
Pix - Oct 05, 2009 6:58:44 pm PDT #614 of 3094
We're all getting played with, babe. -Weird Barbie
Yes! Totally!
meara - Oct 05, 2009 6:59:05 pm PDT #615 of 3094
Hee. Sleep cave and my mutant arm!
SailAweigh - Oct 05, 2009 7:00:26 pm PDT #616 of 3094
Nana korobi, ya oki. (Fall down seven times, stand up eight.) ~Yuzuru Hanyu/Japanese proverb
billytea, I was taught not to use it and, in general, am opposed to it. I do take it on a case-by-case basis, though, and if I think it's required to prevent ambiguity I will use it. But I try not to get myself all wound up in a sentence of such complex construction that I honestly need to use it.
Hil R. - Oct 05, 2009 7:06:08 pm PDT #617 of 3094
Sometimes I think I might just move up to Vermont, open a bookstore or a vegan restaurant. Adam Schlesinger, z''l
I've stayed with Kristin and DebetEsse. Nilly has stayed with me. I think that's it.
beth b - Oct 05, 2009 7:07:03 pm PDT #618 of 3094
oh joy! Oh Rapture ! I have a brain!
The strongest argument I heard for using the serial comma is that it gives items in a series equal weight. It is the reason I use it even when clarity is not a major concern.
I can't believe I even have an opinion. Pre- buffista it was an arbitrary rule.
DavidS - Oct 05, 2009 7:07:06 pm PDT #619 of 3094
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
As a matter of interest, are there any Americans here opposed to the serial comma?
I'm against it, and it's fussiness will be properly weeded out by the English language's incessant drive towards expedience.
By the same taken I don't use the possessive "s" on a word that ends in "s." Like: Waits' instead of Waits's
Cilantro: No. Yuck. Soapy.
Olives: Yes, Greek, Italian, black, green, fancy, in a can, on a pizza yep.
Muffaletta: If it doesn't have olives it's not a muffaletta!