piguy3
Senior Member
English - United States
I regret if there is a thread in relation to this topic somewhere in this forum. A brief search did not reveal one.
I am wondering about the opinions of other English speakers with respect to the use of commas for a series of objects.
for example: I have two apples, three pears, and seven oranges.
I always use the second comma. For me, omitting it is a punctuation error. My ninth grade English teacher, who did us the favor of actually teaching us grammar and proper punctuation (we're talking two months just on the comma) admitted that the omission of the second (or more generally, last) comma for separating a series of objects has gradually become more and more common and acceptable even in formal forms of writing: business correspondence, professional publications, etc. However, he continued (backed up by professionally published grammar texts) to view it as an unwelcome and incorrect innovation. I have held to this as well. I cannot say that I am sure it is an innovation of some recent origin, but I do harbor a strong disaffection for it.
However, I am interested in the opinions and experience of others. In previous years, was the omission of the last comma as common and acceptable as it is now? Was this ever covered in your English classes? Has any grammarian of legitimate authority actually advocated the omission of the last comma?
Thanks.
I am wondering about the opinions of other English speakers with respect to the use of commas for a series of objects.
for example: I have two apples, three pears, and seven oranges.
I always use the second comma. For me, omitting it is a punctuation error. My ninth grade English teacher, who did us the favor of actually teaching us grammar and proper punctuation (we're talking two months just on the comma) admitted that the omission of the second (or more generally, last) comma for separating a series of objects has gradually become more and more common and acceptable even in formal forms of writing: business correspondence, professional publications, etc. However, he continued (backed up by professionally published grammar texts) to view it as an unwelcome and incorrect innovation. I have held to this as well. I cannot say that I am sure it is an innovation of some recent origin, but I do harbor a strong disaffection for it.
However, I am interested in the opinions and experience of others. In previous years, was the omission of the last comma as common and acceptable as it is now? Was this ever covered in your English classes? Has any grammarian of legitimate authority actually advocated the omission of the last comma?
Thanks.