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Subject:RE: Items in a Series and Comma Use? From:"Jennifer Baldwin" <jbaldwin -at- desertdocs -dot- com> To:"Al Geist" <al -dot- geist -at- geistassociates -dot- com> Date:Mon, 30 Jan 2006 11:05:56 -0700
Al Geist wrote:
> I never use that dreaded extra comma in my personal writing,
> or in anything that I send to magazines, etc., but that's me.
Never? Be careful about stating that in writing, because a quick skim through some of your recent posts shows otherwise. :)
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+jbaldwin=desertdocs -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+jbaldwin=desertdocs -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com]On
Behalf Of Al Geist
Sent: Monday, January 30, 2006 10:39 AM
Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Re: Items in a Series and Comma Use?
John Bartol wrote:
> You know, Al, I agree with you about this and the other examples to
> which you replied. According to the 'rules', there should be no
> confusion as to the intent of the sentences.
>
> But...
>
> It's a simple fact that people in general do not always know all of
> the rules. The use of the final comma, while redundant when following
> the traditional rule, serves to eliminate confusion over the intent of
> the sentence.
>
>
As I send in the beginning, this is one of those threads that can go on
forever. I never use that dreaded extra comma in my personal writing,
or in anything that I send to magazines, etc., but that's me. Since
I've been published a lot and have had end users compliment me on the
clarity of my writing, not using that last comma hasn't been a problem.
My degree is in journalism, but I came from the technical writing field
before I got my degree and returned to it sometime after. When first
became a technical writer (from working in hardware engineering), the
former English teacher who was my "boss" used that extra comma. The
person who took over for him didn't use it. He had a EE degree with a
journalism minor.
Most of the people I know who are adamant about using it are English
majors (or minors). To use or not use the comma has been argued by both
groups for as long as I can remember writing and both sides seem to do
pretty well getting their message across to the masses.
So, in order to get on to bigger and better things....I choose not to
use it unless specified in the style guide for whomever is paying me.
Go ahead and use it if it makes you happy. I won't loose any sleep over
it and I don't think that the comma police will loose any sleep either.
--
Al Geist, Geist Associates
Technical Writing, Online Help, Marketing Collateral, Web Design, Award
Winning Videos, Professional Photography
Office: 802-658-3140
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