Re: Items in a Series and Comma Use

Subject: Re: Items in a Series and Comma Use
From: Al Geist <al -dot- geist -at- geistassociates -dot- com>
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2006 18:09:36 -0500

Bruce Wolf wrote:

Good for you, Ken.
I'm trying to remember another example other people
have used to show that the serial comma adds clarity. It may be the following.

Al Geist said, "I owe everything to my parents, Kathy
and God."

Al Geist said, "I owe everything to my parents, Kathy,
and God."

The first sentence implies Kathy and God are Al's
parents.

The second sentence removes the ambiguity.

I'll apologize in advance to Al if, indeed, his
parents are Kathy and God.

BW :)


While we knew Mom's hands had the vengeance of God when we got caught doing something wrong, I don't see any ambiguity between the two sentences. I see two sentences that say the same thing, except the second sentence has an extra comma that is not needed.


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References:
Re: Items in a Series and Comma Use: From: Bruce Wolf

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