Marshall,

I am a fan of the serial comma. One of my books is *Writing, Reading, and
Research* (with the comma). It is more common in the US than the UK,
although the *AP Style Book* advises against it. Wikipedia offers a very
nice explanation <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_comma> of the
controversy, including pros and cons.

Dick


On Fri, Sep 30, 2011 at 10:41 AM, Myers, Marshall <[log in to unmask]>wrote:

>  Dick,****
>
> ** **
>
> I thought the omission of the comma in a series like these was a
> journalistic invention, a way to eliminate what could be an unnecessary
> comma.****
>
> ** **
>
> So the Oxford comma predates the journalistic practice?****
>
> ** **
>
> Marshall****
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar [mailto:
> [log in to unmask]] *On Behalf Of *Dick Veit
> *Sent:* Thursday, September 29, 2011 2:36 PM
> *To:* [log in to unmask]
> *Subject:* the Oxford comma****
>
> ** **
>
> You might enjoy this cartoon<http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/oxford-comma-cartoon/>about the "Oxford comma," the controversial comma that precedes the
> conjunction in a series of three or more items: "eat, drink, and be merry"
> (as opposed to "eat, drink and be merry"). It is also called the "Harvard
> comma" and the "serial comma." The cartoon could provoke discussion in a
> college writing class--perhaps a bit racy for high school.
>
> Similar is the famously ambiguous (and probably apocryphal) book
> dedication: "To my parents, Ayn Rand and God."
>
> Dick
>

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