The serial comma is the Lou Reed of punctuation.
Yes, it might have been cool in 1966.
There are no absolutes. No right and wrong. Haven't you learned anything working for the Powers? There are only choices.
Jasmine ,'Power Play'
Delurking 1: Because we don't always check our e-mail.
DavidS - Oct 11, 2009 7:35:44 am PDT #929 of 3094
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
tommyrot - Oct 11, 2009 7:36:20 am PDT #930 of 3094
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.
The serial comma is the Lou Reed of punctuation.
The semi-colon is the Morrissey of punctuation.
Steph L. - Oct 11, 2009 7:36:33 am PDT #931 of 3094
Unusually and exceedingly peculiar and altogether quite impossible to describe
Lou Reed is eternally cool.
Like the serial comma.
You Philistine!
Steph L. - Oct 11, 2009 7:37:05 am PDT #932 of 3094
Unusually and exceedingly peculiar and altogether quite impossible to describe
The semi-colon is the Morrissey of punctuation.
Please. The semi-colon is the Audrey Hepburn of punctuation.
P.M. Marc - Oct 11, 2009 7:40:17 am PDT #933 of 3094
So come, my friends, be not afraid/We are so lightly here/It is in love that we are made; In love we disappear
Nuh-uh. It's more the Jim Morrison in his prime of punctuation.
DavidS - Oct 11, 2009 7:40:48 am PDT #934 of 3094
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
But Ple will always be the interrobang of punctuation.
Polter-Cow - Oct 11, 2009 7:41:26 am PDT #935 of 3094
What else besides ramen can you scoop? YOU CAN SCOOP THIS WORLD FROM DARKNESS!
Man, I don't understand people against the serial comma. It can only help and never hurt. Haters to the left.
Steph L. - Oct 11, 2009 7:41:34 am PDT #936 of 3094
Unusually and exceedingly peculiar and altogether quite impossible to describe
Nuh-uh. It's more the Jim Morrison in his prime of punctuation.
The serial comma or the semi-colon?
Steph L. - Oct 11, 2009 7:43:14 am PDT #937 of 3094
Unusually and exceedingly peculiar and altogether quite impossible to describe
Haters to the left.
Ladies, form a line to my left for makeouts! Dudes, form a line to my right for high fives!
DavidS - Oct 11, 2009 7:44:13 am PDT #938 of 3094
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
Man, I don't understand people against the serial comma. It can only help and never hurt. Haters to the left.
Because it's not necessary in most instances and slows down the sentence. I'm against unnecessary punctuation. If you need that last comma to make the series clear, then by all means. If not - do not. You can't just go making up whackass Prescriptivist rules to hang drop earrings all over your sentence. No wait - you can! That's why they're whackass.
The rule is - and should be - use the comma only as necessary.