I just learned that in the English language you use a comma before "and" - as in: Me, myself, and I. This adds to the list of grammar and punctuation rules that are completely oppositional between Hebrew and English. Wouldn't you think that languages will follow the same punctuation rules? Well, they don't.
Some of my favorites:
* using passive voice - preferable in Hebrew, frowned upon in English writing
* when a sentence ends with a quote, the full stop is inside the quote marks (this one is really weird)
* ironically, in English you generally use fewer commas - it took me a few years to stop using commas everywhere, and now I have to use them before the "and" at the end of a list. Behh!
About Me
- nogaboga
- Top 3: 1. SuperBoggle 2. A good safety 3. Personalized video screens on airplanes ///// Bottom 3: 1. People who play games on their cell phones on the subway without turning off the sound 2. Katie Couric 3. Gossip magazines
4 comments:
Actually, the comma rule is not standardized, it differs not only between the US and UK but also within the US.
I agree. If you read Strunk & White's "Elements of Style"
(the Bible of writing) the comma is not required. I live by the rules of S&W. It's a short little book but largely valuable. Pick yourself up a copy!!
Now you're just trying to confuse me!
yea, the quote-comma thing threw me off completely... i ran to the store and bought a pocket grammar book, and never opened it. that's what editors are for! make sure your commas and hyphens are correct :)
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