[OT, grammar and punctuation] Use of commas in US and British style?

[RangerWickett]

I'm currently re-editing Natural 20 Press's Tournaments, Fairs, & Taverns for its 2003 print release, and I'm noticing that all the parts written by Russell Morrissey and Peter Ball (a Brit and an Aussie) use a different style of comma-usage in sequences.

For example, I would say: "You see before you a troll, a gazebo, and a portable bathroom."

They would say: "You see before you a troll, a gazebo and a portable bathroom."

Note that they use one less comma in a sequence than I do. I was taught that, in a series, you but a comma after each item in the series. I'm thinking that, maybe in British locales, they were taught to not use commas between the last two items in the series. I mean, it just seems wrong to me to say: "In Tournaments, Fairs and Taverns you'll find several new games (including greased pig wrestling), revised rules for Bahly and a brand new festive location."

Am I just making stuff up, or is this a legitimate difference in punctuation? Heck, can we even agree on whether it's Tournaments, Fairs, & Taverns or Tournaments, Fairs and Taverns? To me, this is quite vexing.

 

[Morrus]

I was always taught inever to put a comma between the last two items of a list. This was impressed on me fairly regularly and fairly strongly, so I'm pretty convinced it ain't a mistake.

 

[NoOneofConsequence]

I was always taught never to put a comma in front of "and" - and I'm an Aussie

 

[kreynolds]

I was always taught inever to put a comma between the last two items of a list.

Same here.

 

[Tarek]

Comma usage

The technically correct version is to put a comma after every item in the list except for the last two. However, it is not INcorrect in American English to put a comma after every item in the list.

A comma represents a pause, after all, as well as an indication of a sub-clause.

It's a difference in style, nothing more. Don't worry about it.

Tarek

 

[Bran Blackbyrd]

Heh, a misplaced comma doesn't really ruffle my feathers.
On the other hand...

their - there
It's their party. The party is over there.

then - than
Then I shot him, rather than let him butcher another sentence.

to - too
I went to play D&D. So too did my friends.

looser - loser
If you lose the game then you lost because you're a loser.
If your pants are loose then you just might lose them. Such is loss.

your - you're

It's your fault because you're an ignoramus.

Even I slip up and make a goof on these when I'm being lazy or tired, but I'm convinced that practically no one on the interent knows how to properly use these things.

Another on my list is "wala", also known as "wa la". It's voila %#$*! There's no such #*^$ing word as "wa la"!

Note to self, double check post for mistakes as to avoid looking like a total ass. Gotta love html.
Hope I didn't hijack the thread.

 

[Morrus]

Well, there you go, Ryan. Looks like you're technically wrong.

The thing that really bugs me is "I could care less". It means the exact opposite of the phrase people are trying to use, which is "I couldn't care less." I mean, it makes sense, right? So how come so many people get it wrong?

If you couldn't care less, then your caring of the issue in question is as low as it can be. You don't care.

If you could care less, then you obviously do care. Otherwise, how would you be able to care less than you currently do?

 

[Morrus]

Another on my list is "wala", also known as "wa la". It's voila %#$*! There's no such #*^$ing word as "wa la"!

I've never heard anyone do that. But, hey - it's not so bad getting a foreign language wrong.

 

[rackabello]

I believe that it is a matter of style rather than a strict grammatical rule. As an editor, the important thing is to pick one of the two approaches and apply it consistently.

Lest you suspect that I'm not going to hijack your thread with grammar/word usage pet peeves: "penultimate" is not synonymous with "ultimate." It means "the next to last," and don't let the authors/editors of the Epic Level Handbook convince you otherwise!

 

[S'mon]

Well, there you go, Ryan. Looks like you're technically wrong.

The thing that really bugs me is "I could care less". It means the exact opposite of the phrase people are trying to use, which is "I couldn't care less." I mean, it makes sense, right? So how come so many people get it wrong?

If you couldn't care less, then your caring of the issue in question is as low as it can be. You don't care.

If you could care less, then you obviously do care. Otherwise, how would you be able to care less than you currently do?

Drives me nuts also.
And, in British English you never put a comma before the 'and', yup.