On Monday 09 April 2007 21:53, Peter Reaper wrote: > Larry Gusaas said on 09.04.2007 09:57: > > Peter Reaper wrote: > >> Larry Gusaas said on 09.04.2007 01:25: > >>> Peter Reaper wrote: > >>>> Larry Gusaas said on 08.04.2007 21:48: > >>>>> Peter Reaper wrote: > >>>>>> Michael Adams said on 08.04.2007 15:59: > >>>>> > >>>>> <clip /> > >>>>> > >>>>>>> The quoted article does not say it is mandatory in any way > >>>>>>> anywhere. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Yes it does. Re-read it. It says: "*Separate* three or more items > >>>>>> in a series with a comma." That sounds pretty mandatory to me. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> http://www.drgrammar.org/faqs/#26 > >>>>> > >>>>> True, but that does not make the article correct .A was previously > >>>>> posted by Adrian Try "It's interesting - I was taught at school not > >>>>> to use a comma before the 'and' in a list." I was taught the same. > >>>>> Did you look at the article in Wikipedia? > >>>>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_comma > >>>>> The issue is not as clearcut as you claim it is. > >>>>> > >>>>> <clip /> > >>>>> > >>>>>> Also, I was merely pointing out an error in Adrian's signature > >>>>>> (which appears in *every* post of his) in the hope that he would > >>>>>> *welcome* the opportunity to correct a highly visible (but minor) > >>>>>> error and that he might appreciate the opportunity to learn > >>>>>> something about the language he is using. He even *thanked* me for > >>>>>> it. > >>>>> > >>>>> <clip /> > >>>>> > >>>>> He was very polite. Did you look at the Wikipedia article he cited > >>>>> ? The comma was not necessarily an error according to some other > >>>>> opinions. > >>>> > >>>> Yes, I did read it. Interesting read! It is pretty clear there that > >>>> in *American* English, the serial comma is virtually always used > >>>> (see "Style guides") (AP are traitors ;-) ). I also found the > >>>> reasons (see "Ambiguity") *for* its use far more compelling than > >>>> those *against* its use. > >>> > >>> I live in America. Which part of it are you referring to? North, > >>> South or Central? > >> > >> That's an irrelevant distinction. > > > > Is it? You said American English, not U.S. English. American could be > > anywhere on tow continents. > > Logically, you are right. I find it interesting that non-US-Americans > love to point out that America is not only the US, as is US-American > didn't know this. However, since the USA so massively dominates > (economically, militarily, culturally, living-standard-wise, etc.) the > American continent, it is pretty obvious to most that when talking about > most topics (e.f., English grammar!) that the USA is meant. > > It seems that it is often those who are resentful or jealous that the > USA is a dominant power in the world who point out this "politically > correct" distinction. > > Yes, US-Americans are often naive about the US being the center of the > universe. But you know what, in many ways, it is. Be happy it's not Iran > or North Korea or China or Russia, or even Europe (can you say > bureaucracy?). > > http://engram-backtalk.blogspot.com/2007/04/quality-of-life-in-america-and- >europe.html > http://engram-backtalk.blogspot.com/2007/04/quality-of-life-in-america-and- >europe_07.html > > So, I see people pointing out that distinction for what it is. An > attempt to divert a discussion that is not going the way they want, and > a way of expressing their (irrational) dislike of the US.
Getting totally OT and this is all just a big troll anyway. Bye. -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tim Fairchild Atchafalaya Border Collies. Kuttabul, Queensland, Australia. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Email mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Homepage http://www.bcs4me.com Photos http://www.pbase.com/amosf Blog http://bcs4me.com/blog BC Forum http://bcs4me.com/forum Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Bcsr4ever ------------------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
