25.3: Punctuating Terms in a Series
- Page ID
- 180840
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Punctuating terms in a series is one area where Air Force writers get conflicting guidance: the use of commas to separate three or more parallel words, phrases, or clauses in a series. Here’s the rule and its two variants:
The Rule
Use a comma to separate three or more parallel words, phrases or clauses in a series.
Variants
- Variant 1-closed punctuation: Include the comma before the final and, or, or nor.
- Will you go by car, train, or plane?
- You will not talk, nor do homework, nor sleep in my class.
- Variant 2-open punctuation: Exclude the comma before the final and, or or nor.
- Will you go by car, train or plane?
- You will not talk, nor do homework nor sleep in my class.
Recommendation
The Tongue and Quill has favored and recommended open punctuation for many years. This recommendation is unchanged, but there are at least three reasons why you might want to follow the closed punctuation guidelines when punctuating three or more items in a series:
- Closed punctuation of series is specified in most commercial grammar guides.
- Closed punctuation of series is specified in some other Air Force references, including the Air University Style and Author Guide.
- The additional comma specified in closed punctuation may help clarify your meaning, especially when the items in the series are longer phrases and clauses (especially when the clauses include "and" as in "up and down, in and out, and over and under)."
Check to see which approach is preferred for the writing product you’re working on. Award packages, performance appraisals, military evaluations and other space-constrained formats typically use open punctuation. Research papers, academic publications and books normally use closed punctuation. Use the approach that best suits your purpose and the needs of the audience.
Figure \(25.3.1\)