[Editors] Commas, lists, and consistency

[Stephanie Hatch]

Jon,
This is one of my favorite debates.

Journalists often use eats, shoots and leaves.
However, in my opinion, it causes problems.

This book is dedicated to my parents, Ayn Rand, and God.
This book is dedicated to my parents, Ayn Rand and God.

If you use just one comma, then Ayn Rand and God are your parents.
So, I say use the penultimate comma, as Jennifer said. Ditto on the  
Chicago manual.

:)
Stephanie

On Sep 11, 2009, at 4:49 PM, Jennifer Schmitt wrote:

> Chicago manual requires the use of the penultimate comma -- these are
> the same guidelines (I believe) used by the Office of the President.
>
> See: sections 6.18 - 6.56 in the 15th Edition.
>
> Jennifer Schmitt
> RD Office of Communications
> 600 Memorial Drive, W98-300
> Cambridge, MA 02139
> 617.253.5508
> schmittj at mit.edu
>
> On Sep 11, 2009, at 4:42 PM, Jon Markowitz Bijur wrote:
>
>> Dear editors,
>>
>> My department is having a civil argument about the use of commas in
>> lists for informal writing (ie event listings on a website). Is it:
>>
>> eats, shoots, and leaves
>> or
>> eats, shoots and leaves
>>
>> ?
>>
>> _____________________________
>> Jon Markowitz Bijur | MIT Museum Interim Programs Manager |
>> 617-253-9607 | jbijur at mit.edu
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Editors mailing list
>> Editors at mit.edu
>> http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/editors
>
> _______________________________________________
> Editors mailing list
> Editors at mit.edu
> http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/editors