Once and for all

Don't wimp out and cite some "book" that purports to be definitive. Fess up and admit which format you think is correct.

case closed

In your example, it's unnecessary.

:rofl:

The phrase is perfectly clear without it.

Which am I saying?

Element one and element two and element three.

or

Element one and element two and element three.

Most people can logically separate "this" from "that" and both those from "the other."

Language isn't a series of similar elements. The elements differ and give it cadence, rhythm, pattern. A good part of reading is sensing these.

I think I love you

:loveya:



:)

Why?

:hi:

The reason that you capitalize, presumably, is because the rules say that you should. After all, as you pointed out, a reader can infer the proper meaning from context, so capitalization following a full-stop is redundant.

In the case of a list of three items, the issue is the same. Yes, a reader can generally infer the proper meaning, but what do the rules say about it? The poll's results clearly indicate that the majority opinion (admittedly, among those who voted) favors one format over another.


Additionally, I have to assert that your first and subsequent replies likewise seemed as though you just wanted to argue. I'm confident that you understood the intent of the poll, but rather than reply with clarity you opted for a smug and cutesy response. Perhaps you didn't intend it that way, but it came across as a splitting of hairs just for the sake of being contrary.


Regardless, I'm not really upset about it, because I'm certainly not heavily invested in the outcome of the poll.

jest sayin...

:shrug:

It depends how you're parsing the elements of the listed sets. If "the other" is in your view sufficiently different from "this" and "that," then I guess I can see the argument that the difference obviates the need for a comma. But if you see the three elements as of-a-kind, then the comma is appropriate.

should "the cow" be capitalized?

*giggle*

"The other" is idiomatic in a way that "the cow" is not. For that reason, the idiom "the other" can be taken as structurally equivalent to "this" and "that."

fishing, dancing and the drinking

or

fishing, dancing, and drinking

this, that, and the other

or

this, that and the other

Gawd, I need to be able to talk these things out sometimes :D

:)

In that commas denote pauses in speech, it should be there. So say Strunk and White. :)

because, it sounds right when I read it out loud. That is how I write. In order that it sounds right to my ear and hoping that it reads right to the receiver.

Because, I am Queen of my world :D