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Victo Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Subelements w/semicolons

One or two below? Or are both OK?

1. John, 12, Amy, 9, Doug, 7, and Louise, 6, will also be going on the picnic.

2. John, 12; Amy, 9; Doug, 7; and Louise 6, will also be going on the picnic.

One or two below?

1. John scored 18 points; Josh, 14; and Douglass, 12.

2. John scored 18 points, Josh 14, and Douglas 12.

Thanks.
  

Top answer

Hi, ( #2 needs a comma after 'Louise'. ) Those are all OK. I prefer the versions without semi-colons.

— Clive

  • Hi, ( #2 needs a comma after 'Louise'.
  • ) Those are all OK.
  • I prefer the versions without semi-colons.
  • They are not hard to interpret.
  • Clive
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6 Answers
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Hi,

( #2 needs a comma after 'Louise'. )

Those are all OK.

I prefer the versions without semi-colons. They are not hard to interpret.

Clive
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I prefer this one:

John, 12; Amy, 9; Doug, 7; and Louise, 6, will also be going on the picnic.

Make sure to place a comma -- not a semicolon -- after 6.
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There is a journalistic escape from this mess which I highly recommend:

John (12), Amy (9), Doug (7) and Louise (6) will also be going on the picnic.
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I agree, MM. The parentheses, in fact, look much better, though I do prefer the Oxford comma in this one (just a personal preference):

John (12), Amy (9), Doug (7), and Louise (6) will also be going on the picnic.
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And, lest my reputation suffer, I did omit it on purpose.
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