TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: Comma From:Romay Jean Sitze <rositze -at- NMSU -dot- EDU> Date:Mon, 8 May 1995 10:41:43 -0600
On Sat, 6 May 1995, Nancy Demeter wrote:
> >Which sentence is correct, relative to the comma:
> >
> >The Tech Writer was bright, articulate, knowledgeable, and computer literate.
> or
> >The Tech Writer was bright, articulate, knowledgeable and computer literate.
> IMO the first example is the most correct. Here is the logic:
> 1. Mother bequeathed $1 million to Sarah, Joe, and Jane, to share equally.
> [Sarah, Joe, and Jane each get approx. 33.3%]
> 2. Mother bequeathed $1 million to Sarah, Joe and Jane, to share equally.
> [Sarah gets 50%; Joe and Jane each get 25%].
> The omission of a comma has rather costly consequences (for Joe and Jane).
I seem to be missing something. Why the comma after Jane? I would have
written this:
Mother bequesthed $1 million to Sarah, Joe, and Jane to share equally.
