In my last grammar blog post, I promised controversy. I promised intrigue. I promised grammar topics that would get you hot under the collar and searching for your staple gun. Well, here you go.
AMERICA. JUST SAY YES TO THE SERIAL COMMA.
First of all, to clarify, I’m referring to the Oxford comma, a.k.a. The Harvard comma, a.k.a. The Why-Yes-I-Am-A-Rocket-Scientist comma. It appears in a list of three or more words or phrases between the penultimate word/phrase and the word “and.”
So for example:
“Can you please pass the fish, chips, and Guiness?” (This is about as Oxford as I get, ladies and gents.)
See that comma budging in between the “chips” and the “and”? That’s the serial comma. It shows up in a series of things, hence the “serial.”
Now let’s look at it without the serial comma:
“Can you please pass the fish, chips and Guiness?”
Doesn’t look that bad you say. And you’d be right. It’s not technically incorrect to leave out the serial comma. But here’s where it gets a bit hairy.
Example the second:
“The Queen mum likes to get up early every morning and have toast with tea, write formal invitations and responses to invitations, and play croquet with her grandson.”
Now let’s look at this sentence WITHOUT a serial comma (*shudder*).
“The Queen mum likes to get up early every morning and have toast with tea, write formal invitations and responses to invitations and play croquet with her grandson.”
I dare anyone to look me in the eye and swear on Prince Charles’s comb-over that those two “ands” don’t confuse the heck out of a person without a comma to indicate their proper uses in the sentence.
I know there are plenty of people emphatically opposed to the serial comma. I can hear their voices now… “The comma means ‘and’! It’s like saying ‘and and’!” And they’d be right. But in my line of work, it has never made the meaning of a sentence less clear to add the comma, though it has often made meaning unclear when the comma is excluded. And to me, meaning carries the most weight.
Some very prestigious grammar people (who are much much more expert on the subject of grammar than I, lowly proofreader that I am) have suggested using the serial comma when it’s necessary and dropping it when it isn’t. This idea itches at my brain. My Virgo OCD kicks in and woe betide anyone who puts such a manuscript near my bright, shiny red pen. Consistency people! How’s a reader supposed to know what to expect when you throw around punctuation willy nilly? Much better, IMO, to be consistent throughout one way or the other.
So take from this post what you will. It is certainly not grammatically incorrect to write: “Prince William is young, dreamy and already taken, more’s the pity.” But keep consistency in mind when you’re considering your comma options. And I, for one, will be happily sipping tea and having scones, marmalade, and clotted cream with my dear friend the serial comma.
For our next grammarian gab session, we’ll be covering the hype behind hyphens. Stay tuned.
I, for one, have been guilty, here and there, of using far too many commas! Second only to that, is my extreme use of apostrophe marks! Imagine that!
Thank God for my proof reader/editor/sister-in-law for pointing them out to me!
But I must agree with you, quite emphatically, that the serial comma is the absolute easiest comma-rule to remember! I would love to partake of those scones, tea, and marmalade filled crumpets!
Great post, by the way, and also, very informative!!
hehe
Sharon
Thanks, Sharon! I am likewise overfond of commas, I’ll admit. But commas keep clauses neat and tidy, just like I like them. And when one’s clients have a tendency of blathering on about arcane topics, clauses are easily muddled. In marches the comma and saves the day.
I know it’s passe to like commas. So much more trendy to leave them out or reform phrases into shorter sentences. But the comma will always be a friend of mine.
Very well put. I usually leave it out, more because I was taught to than any real preference. But I tend to get verbose with my sentences so it might be a good idea to teach myself to use it. My crit partner would appreciate it, I’m sure.
Great post!
Try it out and see if you like it. I know it’s hard to go against teacher indoctrination (I’ll be writing a post on that in the future). But you never know, it may change your life. (Okay, not really, but you may like it, who knows?)
Thanks for commenting!
My critique partner has been comma-ing up my writing. Did you have a talk with her?
I’m a big fan of the serial comma. I’m a fan of anything that provides clarity and allows the author greater control over how their writing is read. Great post!
Ooo, good point about the author having greater control over how the story is read. That’s definitely a perk to the serial comma, and to lots of other maligned punctuation (ellipsis anyone?). You know, I’ve been reading some graphic novels lately (always late to the party, that’s me) and the way the letters are written plays a big role in how the dialogue is conveyed. I think punctuation can do a similar thing in prose (in combination with placement of narrative around dialogue and other devices). Thanks for the comment! Good food for thought.
When I see a sentence that ignores the serial comma (yes, ignores the NEED, because it is always needed in a list of three or more things–always!), it makes my eye twitch. I don’t care what other people say. They can debate it for the next twenty years. I refuse to NOT use it. No one can make me.
Seriously. My eye twitches. It’s very upsetting.
Yes! Yes, yes, yes! I’m so glad so many other talented writers agree with me.
I think I’ll make it a term of my contract if/when I ever get anything published anywhere–must include serial comma!
Great post! I’m a fervent advocate/supporter of the serial comma, and for using it consistently. And anyone who knows how to use penultimate correctly is worth following in my book.
As for scones, I recently figured out how to make them with our new stand mixer and I’m hooked. So easy and yummy.
Okay, you realize you are now going to have to part with your recipe. I have a stand mixer! I can get behind both “easy” and “yummy”! Please? *bats eyelashes*
Also, thanks for the lovely compliments. I’m thrilled to find my serial-comma people. For years, I thought I was all alone. *happy sigh*
P.S. I feel ya on the consistent misuse of “penultimate.” Ugh.
Here’s the recipe. The key is to add the butter cold before you add the wet ingredients. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/sandra-lee/blueberry-scones-with-lemon-glaze-recipe/index.html
Enjoy!
You rock! Thanks!
I used serial commas until one of my publishers took them all out–plus other commas that I know belonged there. They claimed those grammar “rules” were for formal literary compositions, and their books were “commercial”, and since they were primarily an e-publisher, and there weren’t Kindles at the time, many of their customers read on PDA sized screens, and commas “got in the way.” Grrr. I’m getting my rights back, and going through the novel putting back commas. If a sentence makes more sense with a comma, I use it.
Terry
Terry’s Place
Romance with a Twist–of Mystery
Good for you, Terry! If enough of us make a stand, we’ll get our serial commas made into publishing law. Maybe it’s time for a manifesto…hmmm….
Since I’m a journalist, I never used the serial comma. No room for it when you’re working with less than 500 words. But boy did people jump on me when I didn’t use it in fiction! LOL! I’m a convert….
That’s a good point about space. You’re absolutely right. And actually I’m pretty sure the AP style guide advocates leaving out the serial comma, so it makes perfect sense as a journalist that you would. I’m more of a Chicago manual of style person, since I’m in the business sector. Different uses require different rules.
Glad you’re on our side now, though!
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Coming in late on this thread, but I’m not a great fan of the serial comma. I will use it when absolutely necessary, though. I’m a freelance reporter — court reporter — and spend my days writing other people’s words. In my profession, we punctuate for meaning more than following a specific set of rules set forth in a book by a so-called, self-proclaimed, or even an actual expert!
I’m a big believer in function over form–so yes, clarity of meaning trumps all! Thanks for stopping by!
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