[78-L] Grammatically incorrect

[Graeme Jaye]

Hi Cary

On 18/09/2009 you wrote;

CG> Getting back to Mary Travers, I think that it's unfortunate
CG> that for all these years, "Peter, Paul and Mary" was incorrect.
CG> The Chicago Manual of Style indicates that it should have an extra
CG> comma: "Peter, Paul, and Mary."

Must be an "across the pond" thing.

In the UK, I was taught that a comma should *never* precede 'and'. But
then, what do we Brits know about the English language?

Looking at it, at a more basic level, the comma indicates a slight
pause in the spoken text.  That being the case, try reading the two
versions out loud incorporating these pauses.  Which one flows better?

Graeme Jaye

graemejaye at iname.com

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