Commas in a Series

AnonymousIs this comma necessary?

When my family visits, we go to the movies, eat at fancy restaurants, and stay up late at night.

In AmE, the last comma before "and" is not a common usage.

I like bowling, fishing, going to movies

Goodman, I must disagree. The "serial comma," as it's called, it a matter of style. Our house style where I work is to use it. Either is okay, as long as it's used consistently the same way in all instances. At least within the same document. I greatly prefer it. The proofreader in me wants to add it whenever I see it "missing."

This question has come up before.



Grammar Geek is right. Style manuals vary with regard to serial commas.

Grammar GeekGoodman, I must disagree. The "serial comma," as it's called, it a matter of style. Our house style where I work is to use it. Either is okay, as long as it's used consistently the same way in all instances. At least within the same document. I greatly prefer it. The proofreader in me wants to add it whenever I see it "missing."

Barb,

I would expect that you have a style guide for your technical manuals that identifies the various conventions that this company wants you to use. If the serial comma isn't addressed in there, talk to the people responsiple for maintaining an updating the styles guide to see whether it should be to inlcude it or not. (I'm the person who owns the style guide at my company - hopefully you'll have a

I am almost embarrassed to say I don’t believe such a person exists in my company which I’ve worked for 13 years. My writing style ( if there is any) is straightly learned and developed in a technical environment. I am not sure what your company does, but if I were to tell you I was told by my manager that I was the best procedure and spec writer among a group of 18 engineers, you must think I am

AnonymousIs this comma necessary?

When my family visits, we go to the movies, eat at fancy restaurants, and stay up late at night.

Here's what my grammar book says:

Though some writers omit the comma before the coordinating conjunction in a series (Breakfast consisted of coffee, eggs and kippers), the

Goodman, I've sent you an e-mail.

Grammar GeekGoodman, I must disagree. The "serial comma," as it's called, it a matter of style. Our house style where I work is to use it. Either is okay, as long as it's used consistently the same way in all instances. At least within the same document. I greatly prefer it. The proofreader in me wants to add it whenever I see it "missing."

So

I've worked in places that have relied on a standard style guide (rather than having an in-house manual). That may work just fine for you, Goodman.

A few years ago, I worked in a large governmental entity that didn't have a style guide. There was no consistency in English usage. I brought the matter up more than once and no one paid attention.