A question about commas

Hi,

consider the folllowing

'He was friends with two American Presidents, Kennedy,  Nixon, & a British Prime ministre Tony Bliar.

Is the above sentence structure is right? You need a little editting on the end part.

This is correct grammar, but it says that he was friends with five people. Is that what you mean to say?

The sentence also suggests that Kennedy and Nixon were not American Presidents, which sounds odds since there were in fact Presidents with these names.

Best wishes, Clive

You need to be more clear.

He was friends with two American presidents, Kennedy and Nixon, and with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Check your use of capitals, as well.

He was friends with the American President Kennedy and President Nixon, and with ...

Thanks a lot Clive and Grammar Geek

Hi,

 'I bought apples, pears and oranges'

Yes, I doubt anybody would think that pears and oranges comprise apples, but are there any disadvantages to putting a comma before and?  No, I can't think of any except that you are adding unnecessary clutter to the sentence. However, I would never put a comma there in this sentence.

In truth, I was taught never to use such a comma, so it looks odd to me. A comma represents a pause, and the word 'and' itself acts as a pause, ie the word 'and' slows the reader's mind and eye down when looking at the sentence. So if you put both a comma and the word 'and', it seems to me that you are using two consecutive pauses.

The first time in my life that I even encountered any suggestion that one might put a comma there was just a couple of years ago when I started reading this Forum. So, please don't get the idea that every English writer uses such commas.

Best wishes, Clive