What's mildly irritating you today? - Page 128

Shawnee123 · 09-17-2009, 09:02 PM

I can't find my popcorn.

Shawnee123 · 09-17-2009, 09:49 PM

Never mind, I found it.

SteveDallas · 09-17-2009, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cloud

People who do not use the series comma.

I hate that, too.

monster · 09-17-2009, 10:52 PM

,

Shawnee123 · 09-17-2009, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveDallas

I hate that, too.

I hate it thoroughly, truly, and irrevocably.

TheMercenary · 09-18-2009, 04:19 AM

Frequently insomnia. Although I would never have taken the time to watch Exodus (1960) with Paul Newman and Eva Marie Saint.

Queen of the Ryche · 09-18-2009, 10:21 AM

How was it?

SteveDallas · 09-18-2009, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

I hate it thoroughly, truly, and irrevocably.

At my last job, my boss and I had a long-running friendly feud over this. I would add commas to her docs whenever I had the chance and she'd take them off.

When I was getting ready to leave for my next job and I was writing up all the stuff I was leaving behind, it made sense to do HTML pages. I made every comma available a hyperlink to an article about the controversy.

classicman · 09-18-2009, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveDallas

I made every comma available a hyperlink to an article about the controversy.

That is awesome!

Shawnee123 · 09-18-2009, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveDallas

At my last job, my boss and I had a long-running friendly feud over this. I would add commas to her docs whenever I had the chance and she'd take them off.

When I was getting ready to leave for my next job and I was writing up all the stuff I was leaving behind, it made sense to do HTML pages. I made every comma available a hyperlink to an article about the controversy.

Flint · 09-18-2009, 12:49 PM

The original purpose for punctuation was to indicate the rhythm and flow of the written word. When relating a series of items one doesn't say "item one (pause) item twoanditemthree." They say "item one (pause) item two (pause = COMMA) and item three." To not indicate as such in the written word is inexcusable. It is a discourtesy to the reader.

classicman · 09-18-2009, 01:41 PM

^grammarnazi^

Cloud · 09-18-2009, 02:10 PM

All the grammar authorities I've checked say to put them in. So why do people leave them out? Are they teaching that in schools?

SteveDallas · 09-18-2009, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cloud

All the grammar authorities I've checked say to put them in. So why do people leave them out? Are they teaching that in schools?

Quote:

The Chicago Manual of Style, Strunk and White's Elements of Style, most authorities on American English and Canadian English, and some authorities on British English (for example, Oxford University Press and Fowler's Modern English Usage) recommend the use of the serial comma. Newspaper style guides (such as those published by The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, the Associated Press, The Times newspaper in the United Kingdom, and the Canadian Press) recommend against it, possibly for economy of space.[18]

The differences of opinion on the use of the serial comma are well characterized by Lynne Truss in her popularized style guide Eats, Shoots & Leaves: "There are people who embrace the Oxford comma, and people who don't, and I'll just say this, never get between these people when drink has been taken."[19]

In Australia, Canada, South Africa and the United Kingdom, the serial comma tends not to be used in non-academic publications unless its absence produces ambiguity. Many academic publishers (for example, Cambridge University Press) also avoid it,[4] though some academic publishing houses in these countries do use it. The Australian Government Publishing Service's Style Manual for Authors, Editors and Printers (6th edition, 2002), as can be inferred from its title, recommends against it, except "to ensure clarity" (p. 102).

Shawnee123 · 09-18-2009, 02:25 PM

I don't care what those "experts" think. "Authors, Editors and Printers" makes "editors and printers" a single entity, like ham and eggs. It looks stupid, it reads worse. I think someone just got tired of having to make a little comma. If they recommend to use it to "ensure clarity" then whose clarity do we speak of? You either use it, as a rule, or you don't, as a rule. If it's ever needed to ensure clarity then it must be used consistently...not at the whim of some editors, or printers, or editors and printers, or authors and editors...

09-17-2009, 09:02 PM	#1906
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	I can't find my popcorn. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

09-17-2009, 09:49 PM	#1907
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	Never mind, I found it. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

09-17-2009, 10:52 PM	#1909
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	, Attached Images __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

09-18-2009, 04:19 AM	#1911
TheMercenary “Hypocrisy: prejudice with a halo” Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Savannah, Georgia Posts: 21,393	Frequently insomnia. Although I would never have taken the time to watch Exodus (1960) with Paul Newman and Eva Marie Saint. __________________ Anyone but the this most fuked up President in History in 2012!

09-18-2009, 10:21 AM	#1912
Queen of the Ryche is fleeing the scene Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Beautiful CO Posts: 1,510	How was it? __________________ Once, in an interview, Chuck Norris admitted that he was not the most awesome thing ever. He declined to elaborate; but I believe we all know that he was referring to the existence of chocolate covered bacon. I'd rather be judged by twelve than carried by six.

09-18-2009, 12:49 PM	#1916
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	The original purpose for punctuation was to indicate the rhythm and flow of the written word. When relating a series of items one doesn't say "item one (pause) item twoanditemthree." They say "item one (pause) item two (pause = COMMA) and item three." To not indicate as such in the written word is inexcusable. It is a discourtesy to the reader. __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

09-18-2009, 01:41 PM	#1917
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	^grammarnazi^ __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

09-18-2009, 02:10 PM	#1918
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	All the grammar authorities I've checked say to put them in. So why do people leave them out? Are they teaching that in schools? __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

09-18-2009, 02:25 PM	#1920
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	I don't care what those "experts" think. "Authors, Editors and Printers" makes "editors and printers" a single entity, like ham and eggs. It looks stupid, it reads worse. I think someone just got tired of having to make a little comma. If they recommend to use it to "ensure clarity" then whose clarity do we speak of? You either use it, as a rule, or you don't, as a rule. If it's ever needed to ensure clarity then it must be used consistently...not at the whim of some editors, or printers, or editors and printers, or authors and editors... __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

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