Commas in a Series
When I was English instructor at a community college, I taught students that the comma preceding the “and” in a series was optional, like when you write “The butterflies, hummingbird and finch . . .” Optional means that it was their choice whether to include it or not. However, I cautioned, when you are writing for a particular editor, she may have a preference, and you had best follow her direction on the matter. Then I proceeded to explain that I was their editor while they were in my class, and I preferred that that they place the comma before the “and.”
My rationale for using this comma is that it prevents confusion or ambiguity, especially when the series was composed of phrases.
Now I’m writing for a web content site that adheres to the Associated Press(AP) Stylebook. AP omits the comma before the “and” in the series. Boy, is it hard to teach an old dog new tricks (to use a very stale metaphor). My fingers type that comma automatically, and my eyes usually miss several when I’m proofreading. But the copy editors NEVER miss slashing the commas I miss.
This particular employer maintains a scorecard for each writer based on copy editors’ evaluations. I swear that the reason I can’t get my score up to “proficient” is because I can’t remember to leave that last comma off. Now I know how my students felt when I repeatedly inserted that comma.
This comma thing bothers me so much that I was thinking about it on my morning walk today–a lovely hike above a sparkling reservoir with lovely vistas, dozens of birds, and small herds of deer along the way. (You’d think I’d be enjoying a lovely morning walk instead of thinking about commas, but nope!) Something occurred to me this morning as I walked that I hope will help break the habit of typing that extra comma. If I write “boys and girls” I don’t put a comma, so I shouldn’t put a comma in series such as this: “men, women, boys and girls.”
Still not totally convinced, I went searching on the Internet and found that my comma has a name “The Oxford Comma.” More importantly, I found that there are those who agree with my usage even if AP and my copy editors do not. But as I directed my students, I’d best do what my editors want.
Do you use Oxford comma? What do your editors prefer? How do you change writing habits of a many years?
On July 25, 2010, my friend Agatha Hoff launched her book Burning Horses: A Hungarian Life Turned Upside Down. The event took place at the Maritime Museum in San Francisco where huge windows onto Aquatic Park and Alcatraz served as the backdrop for this auspicious moment.
I choose the word “auspicious” deliberately, because for me a book launch is a most favorable occasion for a writer, the point at which she gets to stand before all manner of friends and say “I did it!” In her hands, she holds solid proof of her labor to get a big idea onto the page. She reads from those pages. She signs her name and words of greeting on many cover pages as people stand in line waiting for their turn to congratulate and get their book signed. The spirit in the room is celebratory and congratulatory and auspicious!
I stayed up late the night before wanting to finish reading the book before the event. I’m not going to review the book here. I’ll do that later on Amazon and Goodreads, but I will say that Burning Horses is a clear-eyed and poignant look at WW II Hungary, fresh in tone and style. During her reading at the launch, Aggie gave dimension and flair to a story that was already rich in the telling. That, of course, is the one of the perks of attending a book launch. When an author showcases her work for the first time, she will undoubtedly reveal layers of the work that may not be visible on the page. Aggie did this when she held up an artifact from the story that gave her audience a thrilling connection they might not otherwise have had.
That’s not to say this book is not thrilling in and of itself. To know this thrill, buy and read Burning Horses. But also, when you have the opportunity, go to book launches. The author will surely gift with you something special in return for your attendance.
The book is out! The Right Sisters was published in June and our book launch is August 14 in Sonora.
Ever since the project was finished in late April and the manuscript went to the publisher, I have felt strangely afloat. At first, I told myself it was OK to just write in my notebook each morning. Giving myself permission to write about anything was fun– for a while–but rather quickly it wasn’t enough. I wanted more focus. I tried writing to prompts. I followed guidelines in some writing books. I liked the results, but I still had the sensation that I was on raft floating aimlessly on a big wide ocean.
So I applied for some freelance jobs. I got every job. One involves writing web content for sites like eHow and Answerbag. Another involves writing longer research pieces for clients. The third is an online writing tutor gig. Meanwhile, I still have my local assignments to write theater reviews and feature articles for regional magazines. I also write for KleenSlate Concepts–the company run by my writing buddy Julia with whom I partnered on The Right Sisters. Now I feel spread too thin. I have piles on my desk, and I’m confused about which task should take priority.
I think I need another project! What about you writers? Are you project oriented or do you prefer more freedom, like that found in daily notebook writing, or do you enjoy the challenge and variation offered by freelance writing?
I have a theory that if you put a 7 year old in a swimming pool or a lake, you can stand back and watch him or her learn to swim. Throw that child a few pointers about kicking, stroking, and breathing and watch a swimmer materialize before your eyes.
I had the opportunity to witness just such a thing when I went to Ponderosa Hills pool with Athan, Leon and Aliou. Our hosts were Jenny, Kyle, and Candice, and when we got there at 10am, we had the entire pool to ourselves. The kids stayed in the pool for the next 2 1/2 hours, only emerging a couple of times to scarf down a fat pretzel, a bite of beef jerkey, or sip of melted yogurt before getting right back in the water.
Veterans Kyle and Candice were great instructors and life guards and undoubtedly the models for some of the things the boys learned. Jenny and I took turns getting in the water with the kids while the other one stayed on deck with an eagle eye watching their playful antics. Jenny pulled the boys on water boards for thrilling trips into the deep water and had a pool bottom “tea party” with Candice. I tended to put on my instructional cap, offering suggestions for improving mobility in the water. The main lesson of the day was cupping one’s hands for greater traction during dog paddle and crawl stroke and looking at the sky while floating on the back to improve buoyancy. They all enjoyed learning how to do the dead man’s float and diving from a kneeling position on the deck.
Athan probably had the most remarkable growth spurt when he discovered he could dive in and swim ALL the way across the pool. After about 10 of these trips, Candice led him to the deep end (with our permission) to try his new found skill there. He was glowing with pride, swimming beside the elegant mermaid Candice.
Aliou had a blast kicking, floating, and diving on water toys, but also demonstrated a very skillful back stroke.
Leon was an ever-eager student, who despite chattering teeth, continued to practice his crawl stroke all morning and finally mastered a pretty good dog paddle that took a little less energy and moved him more swiftly to where he wanted to go. His back float is also superb!
Kyle, the oldest of the bunch, showed everyone how to do flip dives off the side and handstands on the bottom, which they tried again and again. He was also a pair of 3rd eyes, keeping watch on 3 rambunctious 7-year-olds who were mastering the ability to swim.
Sadly, I forgot the camera, though I’m not sure it would have been easy to replace the eagle eye with a camera lens with everyone shouting “Watch this, Dearma!” Jenny and I agreed that being ultra-alert for 2 1/2 hours was exhausting. I don’t know about her, but I took a nap when I got home.
When I asked Culley if there was some kind of service I could do for his birthday, he said he’d like to have the planters on his deck cleaned up and replanted with annuals and some more perennials.
WOW! I thought, is this a gift for him or for me? Planning, shopping, and planting a little deck garden sounded like a lot of fun.
First, I drew a diagram of the deck and the placement of all the planters with their existing perennials, and then I set my mind to dreaming. I was thinking about color, seasons, deer, and children, all of which had to be factored in– deer-proof stuff for the patio, flowers Nell could pick, spaces for the fairy gardens she and Huck like to make, plants that would bloom until Thanksgiving and ones that would return next spring, textures that would be pleasing against the oak backdrop that surrounded the deck, and colors that would be complimentary. I made lots of notes . . .
And then I went shopping and filled Cindy’s truck with six packs and quart pots. I couldn’t find the bulbs I wanted, but I would plant those later in the fall. At the house, I spent several hours cleaning up the planters, turning the existing potting soil and adding new soil to many of the planters. Then Cindy joined me, and we got to work planting. It took us 2 days. The work was such fun that at one point, Cindy said, “Why don’t we do this for a living?” I was on exactly the same page. There could not be a more pleasant past time than working in the dirt with a passel of plants.
We filled the deck and patio with lavender, society garlic, petunias and zinnias and ganzia, coleus and baby roses, star jasmine and even a Japanese maple, to name a few. I’m looking forward to watching this garden grow, sure that in a month or so my dreaming will be realized.
Thanks Culley. This was a mutually beneficial exchange.
Clare relished every minute of her 2nd birthday, reminding us all to slow down and savor time. She patiently awaited the older children who had to be called from play far and wide to come sing. She glowed after blowing out her candles, never for a minute realizing she’d had help from Dearma who was sitting behind her. She allowed the first piece of cake to go to brother Athan without a word of complaint, and he dutifully stood by to assist with present unwrapping–the hard stuff like breaking apart plastic ties and packaging. Clare carefully pointed to each letter of her name on every envelope and then studied each card as if memorizing the words. The time she took with each gift was the ultimate gift to the giver, topped off by the sweetest “thank yous” ever spoken. Once all the gifts were opened, she marched down to the lake–in her distintive deliberate stride– to try out her new pink inner tube, a gift from Yay-yay, also know as Granddaddy.
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