Comma required or not?

[atferrari]

In Spanish, if I list the pets at home, I say:

En casa hay un perro, un gato, una araña y una serpiente. After the third, no comma is required.

But if a say that in English, it seems that there is a conflict between the British and American variations when I write:

At home there is a dog, a cat, a spider, and a snake.

The spelling checker from "Word" when set to American English insists in requesting a comma before "and". When set to British English, it does not complain.

I recall something writen by jpanhalt where he used that comma before "and".

Rule or just common use? Comments appreciated.

 

[ericgibbs]

hi Agustin,
In English text it would not be proper to place a 'comma' before an 'and' word.

E

 

[Ian Rogers]

At home there is a dog, a cat, a spider, and a snake.

We don't need the comma..

At home there is a dog, a cat, a spider and a snake.

 

[HiTech]

At home there is a dog, a cat, a spider, and a snake.

The above is correct, regarding American English grammar.

 

[Ratchit]

atferrari,

I cannot aver about the British way of doing things, but in the US, I was always taught that the last comma is optional. However, whichever rule is followed, consistency within a document is considered to be a good practice.

Ratch

 

[Ian Rogers]

Atferrari!! Punctuation on this site is extremely poor... So I wouldn't worry about it here!!!

 

[JimB]

I agree, no comma before the and in English English.

JimB

(En mi casa yo tengo loro).

 

[ericgibbs]

I agree, no comma before the and in English English.

JimB

(En mi casa yo tengo loro).

hi Jim,

Is that an image of a genuine Norwegian Blue.?

E

 

[JimB]

Is that an image of a genuine Norwegian Blue.?

No, it is an African Grey Spectrum Analyser.

The background story:
Some years ago, as I was contemplating splashing out a fistfull of cash on a spectrum analyser, the (now) late Mrs JimB declared "If you are having that, I want an African Grey parrot!"

So, to paraphrase the advert:
Spectrum Analyser - £900
Parrot and cage - £600
Domestic harmony - Priceless!

JimB

 

[atferrari]

So, to paraphrase the advert:
Spectrum Analyser - £900
Parrot and cage - £600
Domestic harmony - Priceless!

JimB

You made me laugh!

 

[atferrari]

Thanks to all that replied.

Good. Now I can stop feeling guilty of not using THAT comma.

 

[atferrari]

I agree, no comma before the and in English English.

JimB

(En mi casa yo tengo loro).

Hola JimB,

I would write or say "En mi casa tengo un loro". For cases like this, the pronoun is implicit.

Analyzer eh? Go figure...!

 

[Mikebits]

The serial comma is used when appropriate. The best example I can give is;
For dinner we had hot dogs, beans, macaroni and cheese. this can also be written;
For dinner we had hot dogs, beans, macaroni, and cheese.
In the first example it is implied that we had mac and cheese. In the second example, we had macaroni not mixed with the cheese.

Side note: The serial comma is also known as the oxford comma which to me implies a British origin.

 

[Mikebits]

Another example;
We had green eggs and ham. So is both our eggs and ham green?
Or,
We had green eggs, and ham. Now we think only the eggs were green...

 

[atferrari]

Another example;
We had green eggs and ham. So is both our eggs and ham green?
Or,
We had green eggs, and ham. Now we think only the eggs were green...

Now I understand why in Spanish we have a simpler dilemma if any at all: "coffee and milk" or "macaroni and cheese" we translate using "with" not "and" (café con leche / macarrones con queso) avoiding a possible confusion.

MAybe if I say something like "café y leche" it would be construed as I had both of them but not necessarily mixed (together).

Enough for the day.

Gracias Mikebits

At Babel times we lost our chance forever and the fun installed forever as well...

 

[KeepItSimpleStupid]

What about: At home there is a dog, a possum, a mouse and a trap. and

At home there is a dog, a cat, a possum, and a trap.

In the first case, you get the impression of a mouse trap. The second? A possum trap, a mouse trap?

 

[Mikebits]

American English language is bizarre, a mishmash of a multitude of cultures; Irish, Latin, Greek, German, British, French, Spanish... What did I miss. In my college days, I worked as an Essay writing tutor for minimum wage, it helped pay for books

 

[HiTech]

Another example;
We had green eggs and ham. So is both our eggs and ham green?
Or,
We had green eggs, and ham. Now we think only the eggs were green...

Actually it's:

Hi, Sam I am.
I hate green eggs and ham says Sam.
I will not eat them here,
I will not eat them there,
I will not eat them anywhere.

Eaten fried or boiled,
Pan cooked or tin foiled,
Shared with a hick,
Or even a chick
They still make me sick.

Whether in the rain
Or on a train
I will not eat them
Ever again.

 

[KeepItSimpleStupid]

A wife asks husband. "Could you please go shopping for me and buy one carton of milk and, if they have avocadoes, get six."

A short time later, the husband returns with 6 cartons of milk.

"Why did you buy six cartos of milk?", the wife asks.

He replies, "They had avocadoes".

 

[killivolt]

A wife asks husband. "Could you please go shopping for me and buy one carton of milk and, if they have avocadoes, get six."

A short time later, the husband returns with 6 cartons of milk.

"Why did you buy six cartos of milk?", the wife asks.

He replies, "They had avocadoes".

That's so funny, and Educational, I needed that joke.

Works for me, Perfect.

kv