I so agree with this:

I am sort of a comma maniac. I love commas and dropping one can often change the meaning of a sentense. I lifted this, in it's entireity, from Jeff Weintraub.  

 

Why it is vitally necessary to prevent the extinction of the final serial comma

Merle Haggard

From Bruce Baugh via Patrick Nielson Hayden via Brad DeLong, here is a photo caption from a story about Merle Haggard:

The documentary was filmed over three years. Among those interviewed were his two ex-wives, Kris Kristofferson and Robert Duvall.

Were Merle & Kris & Robert ever actually married? Somehow, I doubt it. My guess is that the passage in question should have read:

Among those interviewed were his two ex-wives, Kris Kristofferson, and Robert Duvall.

Can anyone think of a good reason to leave out that last comma in a series? I can't. In fact, the practice has always irritated me. It belongs in the historical dustbin of English usage.

Yours for logical punctuation,
Jeff Weintraub

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