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Eddie88 Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
Making a lsit with commas
HI.
This may seem slightly trivial; however, I have always tried to be pedantic with English writing.
When one makes a list using a comma, do they all need to make sense with the words preceeding the first comma. I know this will make little sense. So, here is an example to show what I mean:
I went to the store and bought a book, car, bike, and train.
Firstly, when can I omit the indefinite articles in a list? Do I have to place one on the last item in the list?
Secondly, and unfortunately, I couldn't think of an example which shows the difficulty I am having. But in the example, anyway, does everything listed need to make sense back to the last word before the list. In this case, the word 'bought' is the last word and everything in the list makes sense using that word. I went to the store and bought a train. I went to the store and bought a bike...and so on. However, in some examples it sometimes does not make sense if you take out the list and just use one of the things in the list- as I have done.
I hope this makes sense, haha
This may seem slightly trivial; however, I have always tried to be pedantic with English writing.
When one makes a list using a comma, do they all need to make sense with the words preceeding the first comma. I know this will make little sense. So, here is an example to show what I mean:
I went to the store and bought a book, car, bike, and train.
Firstly, when can I omit the indefinite articles in a list? Do I have to place one on the last item in the list?
Secondly, and unfortunately, I couldn't think of an example which shows the difficulty I am having. But in the example, anyway, does everything listed need to make sense back to the last word before the list. In this case, the word 'bought' is the last word and everything in the list makes sense using that word. I went to the store and bought a train. I went to the store and bought a bike...and so on. However, in some examples it sometimes does not make sense if you take out the list and just use one of the things in the list- as I have done.
I hope this makes sense, haha
Top answer
Hi, This may seem slightly trivial; however, I have always tried to be pedantic with English writing. When one makes a list using a comma, do they all need to make sense with the words preceeding the first comma. Yes, although that's really a matter of meaning rather than of grammar.
- Hi, This may seem slightly trivial; however, I have always tried to be pedantic with English writing.
- When one makes a list using a comma, do they all need to make sense with the words preceeding the first comma.
- Yes, although that's really a matter of meaning rather than of grammar.
- Strcitly speaking, grammar does not really care about meaning.
- I know this will make little sense.
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2 Answers
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Hi,
This may seem slightly trivial; however, I have always tried to be pedantic with English writing.
When one makes a list using a comma, do they all need to make sense with the words preceeding the first comma. Yes, although that's really a matter of meaning rather than of grammar. Strcitly speaking, grammar does not really care about meaning.
I know this will make little
This may seem slightly trivial; however, I have always tried to be pedantic with English writing.
When one makes a list using a comma, do they all need to make sense with the words preceeding the first comma. Yes, although that's really a matter of meaning rather than of grammar. Strcitly speaking, grammar does not really care about meaning.
I know this will make little
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Oh, excellent!
Just to confirm then, (you don't have to reply if I have understood you) each item in the list must make sense to the words preceeding the list. For instance, I bought a book, bike, car, and scooter- they all make sense individually. I bought a bike. I bought a car etc ('I bought a' should be the invisible words that are basically the comma?)
And thanks for cleari
Just to confirm then, (you don't have to reply if I have understood you) each item in the list must make sense to the words preceeding the list. For instance, I bought a book, bike, car, and scooter- they all make sense individually. I bought a bike. I bought a car etc ('I bought a' should be the invisible words that are basically the comma?)
And thanks for cleari
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