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Some cocktail-swilling mid-century print editor's aesthetic pet peeve notwithstanding, I think a case can be made that the serial comma, ugly or not, makes sentences like these clearer, and thus, is worthy of use.
"...highlights of his global tour include encounters with an 800-year-old demigod, a dildo collector, and Nelson Mandela."
(Note: This is the comedically appropriate answer, not an indictment of the merits of the argument.)
I didn't realize the serial comma was allegedly ugly.
One practical reason to avoid it is to save space, which is supposedly why the Associated Press doesn't use it.
On the other hand, Mandela spent a lot of time in prison during the apartheid era, so there's no telling what he picked up there.
And I agree with prior statements that the comma wouldn't really have helped that sentence all that much. It's just flat-out poorly-written to begin with.
And I agree with prior statements that the comma wouldn't really have helped that sentence all that much. It's just flat-out poorly-written to begin with.
... highlights of his global tour include a dildo collector, an 800-year-old demigod, and Nelson Mandela.
Not nearly as funny.
"... highlights of his global tour include encounters with Nelson Mandela, an 800-year-old, demigod, and a dildo collector."
Now, Nelson Mandela is only an 800-year-old demigod, but not a dildo collector. Much better.
@23/24, the addition of the comma would definitely make the sentence mean what it actually should mean.
@25, eliminating serial comma would cause more problems, actually.
... highlights of his global tour include encounters with Nelson Mandela, and an 800-year-old demigod and a dildo collector.
"... highlights of his global tour include encounters with (1) Nelson Mandela, (2) an 800-year-old demigod and (3) a dildo collector."
Note that lawyers never use the Oxford comma.
Note further that they would charge you $500 to write that sentence.
-- Nomennovum
"... highlights of his global tour include encounters with (1) Nelson Mandela, (2) an 800-year-old demigod and (3) a dildo collector."
Note that lawyers never use the Oxford comma.
Note further that they would charge you $500 to write that sentence.
... highlights of his global tour include: encounters with Nelson Mandela, an 800-year-old demigod and a dildo collector.
... highlights of his global tour include: encounters with Nelson Mandela, an 800-year-old demigod and a dildo collector.
... highlights of his global tour include encounters with Nelson Mandela, with an 800-year-old demigod and with a dildo collector.
... highlights of his global tour include: encounters with Nelson Mandela, an 800-year-old demigod and a dildo collector."
It is considered improper to separate a verb from its direct object with a colon. Colons are usually used to introduce a list of items separate from the main clause. For example,
He had several notable encounters on his global tour: one with Nelson Mandela, one with an 800-year-old demigod, and one with a dildo collector.
... highlights of his global tour include: encounters with Nelson Mandela, an 800-year-old demigod and a dildo collector."
It is considered improper to separate a verb from its direct object with a colon. Colons are usually used to introduce a list of items separate from the main clause. For example,
He had several notable encounters on his global tour: Nelson Mandela, an 800-year-old demigod, and a dildo collector.
If even Oxford doesn't use the Oxford comma, then why should anyone else?
If even Oxford doesn't use the Oxford comma, then why should anyone else?
If even Oxford doesn't use the Oxford comma, then why should anyone else?