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A couple days ago, I mentioned serial commas...
2 days ago, by
Damkerng T. Most style guides or comma usage rules mention only the case of serial commas when there are three or more items in the list...
So I searched a bit, and found three pages worth mentioning.
> COMMA RULE #1 – THE COMMA IN A SERIES: Use commas to separate items in a series.
> (A “series” is a list of 3 or more items, the last two of which are joined by and, or, or nor. )
> COMMA RULE #2 – THE COMMA WITH COORDINATE ADJECTIVES: Use commas between coordinate adjectives.
> (e.g. We saw a lively, happy poodle.)
> (but We saw a young golden retriever.)
> COMMA RULE #3 – THE COMMA IN A COMPOUND SENTENCE: Use a comma before and, but, or, nor, for, so, or yet to join two independent clauses that form a compound sentence.
> (e.g. Joe read the book, and he saw the movie.)
> (but Joe read the book and saw the movie.)
> COMMA RULE #4 – THE COMMA WITH INTRODUCTORY WORDS: Place a comma after introductory phrases that tell where, when, why, or how.
> (e.g. During the hot summer of 1984, the temperatures set records.)
> (but The temperatures set records during the hot summer of 1984.)
> COMMA RULE #5 – THE COMMA WITH NONESSENTIAL WORDS, PHRASES, AND CLAUSES: Separate with a comma any nonessential words or groups of words from the rest of the sentence.
> (e.g. The man forgot, however, where he had placed his keys.)
Even though I doubt this reasoning in the page: "Stephanie refuses to go water-skiing with us because she is afraid of getting sliced by the boat propeller, tangling with a snake, becoming an alligator's lunch, or having a brain-sucking amoeba crawl up her nose."
(cont.) Some handbooks will tell you that the comma before the last item in the series—the serial comma—is unnecessary. Although you do have the option of leaving it out, the editorial policy of many magazines, newspapers, and book companies is to use a comma before the coordinating conjunction. You will, as a result, notice its presence in many of the professional publications you read.
(cont.) I find that the advice to maintain parallel structure when you use equal grammatical units is sound.
> NOT THIS: Harry spent his afternoon playing tennis, returning overdue library books, and then he ate a mushroom and pineapple pizza.
> BUT THIS: Harry spent his afternoon playing tennis, returning overdue library books, and eating a mushroom and pineapple pizza.
> OR THIS: This afternoon, Harry played tennis, returned overdue library books, and ate a mushroom and pineapple pizza.
Though it's basically similar to the other two, it has this:
> Must you use a comma before the conjunction in a series of items?
Short answer: Yes.
> Long answer: You may be wondering about the comma before the conjunction. Isn't it optional you ask?? Well, it depends on whom you ask. The Gregg Reference Manual recommends always putting a comma before the last item in a series, even if a conjunction is used. My 1973 issue of Warriner's English Grammar and Composition says "It is permissible to omit the comma before the and joining the last two items in a series if the comma is not needed to make the meaning clear."
> (cont.) Writers Inc. recommends using a comma before the conjunction and makes no mention of an exception. I've noticed that the Washington Post routinely omits the comma before the conjunction. The Penguin Dictionary of American English Usage and Style sheds some light on the question.
> (cont.) The Penguin Dictionary claims that newspapers omit the comma before the conjunction but books use the comma. The Penguin Dictionary goes on to recommend the use of the comma before the conjunction because "A comma and a conjunction have different functions. A comma separates items; a conjunction joins them."
What's interesting the most and shed light on my two-item list problem is the "Exceptions and Curiosities" section:
> When a conjunction appears before each item in the series, use no commas.
> e.g. Ruth plays field hockey and basketball and soccer.
So, if I follow this, I shouldn't use a comma in a two-item list, e.g.
> Ruth plays field hockey and basketball.
Are the following sentences grammatical or not? If not, does substituting a to-infinite make them grammatical? (Optional: designate if the sentence expresses purpose, reason, aim, or function)
1 I have decided to purchase a jet for getting to NYC and back more quickly.
2 I have decided...
We can use both constructions to express purpose - to-infinitive and for+verb-ing.
In answer to the question asking "WHY", a to-infinitive is often used. On the other hand, in answer to the question asking "WHAT FOR", we use for+verb-ing or for+noun.
This is not very helpful as both the questio...
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