Comma/semicolon

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sunu

#172159 Tue, 20 Dec 05 08:21 AM

Hi,

How would we punctuate the following without rewriting the sentence:

In ancient times,/? India taught the world the concept of ‘Zero’, decimal and algebra,/? explored the philosophical essence of Karma,/? and tapped the latent art in erotica.

Also, would it be inappropriate to use the Oxford comma after decimal? If not, how would the punctuation of the sentence be?

Thx,

sunu

Joined on Wed, Apr 13 2005

New Delhi, India

New Member (38)

Commas, Punctuation

paco2004

#172189 Tue, 20 Dec 05 10:38 AM

I would go with an Oxford comma after 'decimal', but other people would have different opinions.

In ancient times, India taught the world the concept of ‘zero’, decimal, and algebra, explored the philosophical essence of Karma, and tapped the latent art in erotica.

paco

paco2004

Joined on Wed, Nov 17 2004

Senior Member (4,095)

In Japan today even dogs are learning how to bow-wow in English.

Commas

sunu

#172198 Tue, 20 Dec 05 11:03 AM

Thanks, Paco.

So, there is no need for a semicolon in that sentence (say, between algebra and explored)?

sunu

Colons, Commas, Semicolons

paco2004

#172209 Tue, 20 Dec 05 11:35 AM

No semicolon is needed in your sentence. I parse it as follows:
In ancient times, India [A taught the world (a the concept of ‘zero’), (b decimal), and (c algebra)], [B explored the philosophical essence of Karma], and [C tapped the latent art in erotica].
A, B and C are coordinated.
a, b and c are coordinated.

paco

paco2004

Colons, Commas, Semicolons

sunu

#172211 Tue, 20 Dec 05 11:40 AM

Thanks, Paco.

All is clear Smile [:)]

sunu

Commas

julielai

#172631 Wed, 21 Dec 05 03:40 AM

Semicolon sometiems acts as a "supercomma".

e.g.

Science fiction sagas with the most memorable characterization are Star Trek, with Mr. Spock and his large pointed ears; Aliens, with the ever-harassed but always-capable Lt. Ripley; and Star Wars, with Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Darth Vader.

Example from http://home.cerrocoso.edu/marvin/handouts/comma4.htm

If there is at least one internal comma within each item, a semi-colon will be used to separate between A, B, and C. (like a, a, a; b, b, b; c, c, c)

julielai

Joined on Sun, Oct 24 2004

Planet earth

Senior Member (3,607)

Just another blogger (http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/julie-lai)

Colons, Commas, Semicolons

sunu

#172693 Wed, 21 Dec 05 08:54 AM

Thx, Julie.

But, now we need to come back to the original sentence that I had given. There are internal commas in A but not the rest. So, do we use a semicolon after A finishes?

sunu

Colons, Commas, Semicolons