The Importance of Correct Punctuation

[Jdvn1]

Then why not just say, "I dedicate this book to my friends: Bob and Bill," for the former example?

There are multiple ways to write a sentence and have it mean the same thing. The only point is that the author chose an unclear way. Also, I think the dash is better than the colon, but maybe that's just a personal preference.

 

[Morrus]

I remember making a post about this very subject a year or two ago -- let's see if I can find it. Ah, the search feature!

Here it is. Note that the context of this post was immediately after someone used the famous Ayn Rand & God example:

Ah, the Oxford Comma. Interestingly, it was "invented" by the Oxford University Press, and thus is, historically, distinctly English, not American. It was introduced as the "house style" of the OEP. These days, it is the "house style" of the Harvard University Press, which explains its popularity in America, unlike in the UK where it has fallen out of favour.

Apparently (and I have no way of confirming this), it is common practice in American newspapers to omit the comma.

It is also known as the "serial comma".

It's interesting that you used [the Ayn Rand and God example] - I presume you've read about the Oxford Comma at some point. However, you've only pointed out the confusion possible by leaving the comma out. Of course, there is the other side of the coin, where the comma can, itself, cause confusion. The usual "test phrase" used to illustrate this is:

[bq]
"We considered Miss Roberts for the roles of Marjorie, David's mother, and Louise",[/bq]

Is Marjorie David's mother? Or are there three roles up for audition?

When it comes down to it, there is no hard and fast rule in either the US or the UK. Use or omission of the Oxford Comma is something to which you should apply common sense. Use it if doing so makes your meaning clearer; omit it if it makes your meaning ambiguous.

 

[Umbran]

The fact of the matter is that the final comma in a list is optional, but each author should try to be as consistent as possible.

Yes, but with what should they be consistent?

Note that this appeared in the dedication, which typically comes right in the front of the book. It takes a bit of effort to be inconsistent when all you have so far is one sentence!

 

[reveal]

Yes, but with what should they be consistent?

Note that this appeared in the dedication, which typically comes right in the front of the book. It takes a bit of effort to be inconsistent when all you have so far is one sentence!

A way a writer presents information in one context is usually indicative of how he/she presents information in other contexts. This dedication, while simply a short sentence and not part of the actual story, denotes that the author chooses to omit the comma prior to the conjunction. It would not be surprising if the author did this throughout the rest of the book.

 

[Darth K'Trava]

Next time, decaf!

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Next time, decaf!

Or some mead.

 

[Darth K'Trava]

Or some mead.

Or quit putting Stackers into the dwarven beer.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Or quit putting Stackers into the dwarven beer.

hmmm......maybe some saltines?

 

[Hijinks]

So here's my question: is it now ok to use the semicolon followed by a "however" ? As in the following sentence:

I used to be quite good at grammar; however, it's been a while.

In college, I learned never to do this; the semicolon is meant to separate two complete sentences, and if you're using "however," then you're already separating the sentences and it should be a comma. The last I knew, Strunk & White was still saying ; + "however" was a no-no. I keep seeing it everywhere, though. One example is the author John Sanford; he does it quite a bit. My best friend is also currently taking paralegal courses, and they encourage it. Is it common usage now?

 

[Angel Tarragon]

So here's my question: is it now ok to use the semicolon followed by a "however" ? As in the following sentence:

I used to be quite good at grammar; however, it's been a while.

Well, of course. It only makes sense.