I'm looking for a concise phrase for the sentence construction "a, b, c, and d". That is, a comma-separated list of things, where the last comma is either replaced or accompanied by the word "and".
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3What's wrong with list? – Tim Lymington Jan 24 '13 at 22:29
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@TimLymington "list" is too generic. The specific action I'm looking for is a transformation from a simple comma separated list to one with an "and" before the last element. – Josh Jan 24 '13 at 22:35
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1Actually, list is precise and specific in describing the thing you say you want described. – Robusto Jan 24 '13 at 22:36
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@Robusto I disagree. "a, b, c, d" is a list. So is "a, b, c, and d". I'm looking for a word or phrase that describes the latter construction but NOT the former. – Josh Jan 24 '13 at 22:52
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A comma-separated list of things, where the last comma is either replaced or accompanied by the word "and". – Edwin Ashworth Jan 24 '13 at 23:40
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Not a fan of the general attitude of this stackexchange site – Josh Jan 25 '13 at 00:05
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So that is what you are asking? Then this is a dupe in sheep's clothing. – Robusto Jan 25 '13 at 01:11
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How about "a standard enumeration"? – Cerberus - Reinstate Monica Jan 25 '13 at 01:26
2 Answers
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The specific action I'm looking for is a transformation from a simple comma separated list to one with an "and" before the last element.
Not using and in a list is called asyndeton.
Such a list is styled asyndetic and the action of adding an and might be called syndetication, although I can't find a reference for that.
Using and between every element in a list ("a and b and c and d", in the manner of excited children) is called polysyndeton — that's listed in OED but not ODO.
I suppose a list with just one conjunction might be termed monosyndetic. I can't find a reference for that either.
Andrew Leach
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2Rather than syndetication, you can just say the construction is a syndeton, which is well-attested. Monosyndeton is also found in linguistic works like this. – Jon Hanna Jan 24 '13 at 23:52
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1good answer. coordination without a conjunction can also be called asyndetic coordination, and coordination with a conjunction is called syndetic coordination. – Jan 25 '13 at 03:38
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I would just call that a series. (This is also why the Oxford comma is sometimes called a serial comma.)
JLG
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