Lately when I've been reading news articles and website blogs, I've been seeing some funny grammar that I don't remember learning about.
It deals with commas for a list of items.
Normally I thought you would write like this:
I have potatoes, carrots, and squash today to cook.
Lately I've been seeing this:
i have potatoes, carrots and squash today to cook.
Is this some new trend of bad punctuation or have I missed a rule in my grammar book?
This has been an arbitrary rule for many years. When I first studying journalism some 60 years ago, we were making the transition from the comma before the "and" to omitting it. The reason was that type setting was done by hand and that comma was seen as a waste of time, effort, and money.
Today, writers and students are expected to follow their style manual. Common sense tells me that that Oxford comma can be omitted in some series. This humorou cartoon, though, shows an example when it must be used.
http://durangotexas.blogspot.com/2012/06/another-hot-day-in-texas-trying-to-be.html
Thanks Ms. Sue! I'm just going to continue to use it so no one will be confused.
I must ask, since I've used this site for years and love it, how did you come about to working here? Or is this all volunteer work? I see you, Dr. Bob, and some other people haven't left this site since I started posting here 7 years ago. :)
We're all volunteers, and most of us are retired teachers and professors. Several others have also been here for years -- bobpursley, writeacher, drwls -- among others. Many of us were volunteer tutors for AOL's Academic Assistance Center -- going back to the mid-1990s. We really enjoy helping students -- and doing some of the necessary research.
The usage of commas in a list of items can sometimes vary depending on the style or preference of the writer or publication. Both of the examples you mentioned are correct, but they follow different conventions.
The first example, "I have potatoes, carrots, and squash today to cook," uses what is often referred to as the Oxford comma or serial comma. This style involves placing a comma before the coordinating conjunction (usually "and" or "or") that precedes the final item in a list. It is commonly used in American English.
The second example, "I have potatoes, carrots and squash today to cook," omits the Oxford comma. This style, also known as the AP (Associated Press) style or British style, generally does not include the comma before the conjunction.
There is no definitive rule that states one style is right and the other is wrong. It's mainly a matter of personal preference and the style guide followed by the writer or publication. If you are writing for a specific publication or organization, it's advisable to follow their preferred style guide for consistency.
To determine the appropriate style for a specific context, you can consult a style guide, such as The Chicago Manual of Style or The Associated Press Stylebook, which provide guidelines on the usage of the Oxford comma and other punctuation rules. Additionally, it's always a good idea to be consistent within your own writing, so pick one style and stick with it throughout your document or article.