Comma

[irmamar]

Do you use comma (,) at the end of a list? I've always seen this comma in serious books, but once I asked my teacher and he told me that comma is not used at the end of a list (just as in Spanish). But just now I was reading a book and I've found again the same structure, so I have a doubt. For instance, which one is the correct sentence?

Potatoes, tomatoes, and lettuce.

Potatoes, tomatoes and lettuce.

Thanks in advance.

[Ferlas]

The first one's right, I'm about 95% positive.

I'm not sure though, I could be wrong.

[irmamar]

We never use tha last comma, I'd write:

Patatas, tomate y lechuga (without comma)

Thanks, Ferlas

[Ferlas]

No problem.

Lots of subtle differences between the languages that I never seem to pick up on.

[poli]

I am 100% sure that the last comma is optional in English.

[Ferlas]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_comma

Poli's actually right. I'm just very used to writing with the final comma.

[irmamar]

I didn't know that comma had even a name! I'm surprised

In Spanish serial comma is not optional, it's against the rules, you should never use it.

[NiCACHiCA]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Do you use comma (,) at the end of a list? I've always seen this comma in serious books, but once I asked my teacher and he told me that comma is not used at the end of a list (just as in Spanish). But just now I was reading a book and I've found again the same structure, so I have a doubt. For instance, which one is the correct sentence?

Potatoes, tomatoes, and lettuce.

Potatoes, tomatoes and lettuce.

Thanks in advance.

When looking it up, I found that a comma between the last two items in a list (called a serial comma) is apparently optional. So, in a general list is appears to be completely optional. Although, at wikipedia.com it gives two good examples of the difference a comma can make.


quoted from wikipedia.com:

In lists Commas are used to separate items in lists, as in They own a cat, a dog, two rabbits, and six mice. In English a comma may or may not be used before the final conjunction (and, or, nor) in a list of more than two elements. A comma used in such a position is called a serial comma or an Oxford or Harvard comma (after the Oxford University Press and Harvard University Press, both prominent advocates of this style). In some cases use or omission of such a comma may serve to avoid ambiguity:

Use of serial comma disambiguating:

• I spoke to the boys, Sam and Tom. – The boys refers to Sam and Tom (I spoke to two people).
• I spoke to the boys, Sam, and Tom. – The boys, Sam, and Tom are separate units (I spoke to four or more people).

Omission of serial comma disambiguating:

• I thank my mother, Ayn Rand and God. – The writer is thanking three people: the writer's mother, Ayn Rand (who is not the writer's mother) and God.
• I thank my mother, Ayn Rand, and God. – The writer is thanking two people: Ayn Rand (who is the writer's mother) and God.

Hope this helps a little.

[irmamar]

Thanks a lot, Nicachica

And a question, do you use this serial comma or not? I mean, usually.

[NiCACHiCA]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Thanks a lot, Nicachica

And a question, do you use this serial comma or not? I mean, usually.

I used to always use it. I thought it wasn't optional. But after a few jobs as an office manager, I have slowly shifted to not using it since my boss never does.