2.  The World Series?  A Movie Series  ???

3. A series is a group of three or more similar items, which all go in the same slot of the sentence. All items in the series must be similar in form (for example: all nouns or all verbs). You may have a series in any slot of the sentence; you may have a series with any part of speech, not only with single words but also with phrases or clauses.

4. A series can help eliminate wordiness. If, for example, you have three short sentences, you can reduce them to a single sentence with a series. If you want to list or give several examples, try series structures to provide details.

5. For variety, you might create this pattern without conjunction, to give a different kind of emphasis to the items of the series. You do not single out the last item for special emphasis; instead, you say that all the items are equal.

6. This pattern is the simplest form of the series. Just separate the items by commas. No conjunction links the final two items. Omitting the conjunction is effective because it gives your sentence a quick staccato sound.

7. The United States has a government of the people, by the people, for the people. The Teacher handled the situation with great patience, wisdom, humor. It took courage, skill, knowledge —and he had them all. Their friendship has endured, in spite of arguments, boyfriends, distance. I like hamburgers with everything on ‘em; pickles, onions, tomato, lettuce, cheese.

8. “I have come to you without sin, without guile, without evil, without a witness against me.” — The Book of the Dead Do you often feel dragged out, knocked down, pooped, plumb exhausted?— MM Magazine, December 2011

9.  Since any part of the sentence may have a series, take care to make all items in the series parallel. › Swimming, surfing, to go boating—these were Sally’s favorite sports at summer camp. › A typical teenage user of cell phones is distracted, disengaged, and likely to have a higher phone bill.

10.  Note: although in this book we do not discuss the most common pattern for series—A, B, and C—remember that a comma before the conjunction often helps make the meaning clear.  The restaurant served a variety of sandwiches: corned beef, pastrami, salami and egg with bacon. › Would you order the last one?

11. 1. An essay traditionally has three major parts: ______________, __________, _______________. 2. _______________, _____________, ____________ are my favorite foods. 3. (begin with three –ed or –en words) ______________, ______________, ______________ the winner left the stadium feeling great. 4. (end with a series of –ing words) The children gathered around their teacher _____________, ____________, _________________. 5. When the game was cancelled, the rowdy spectators at the ball game ____________, _____________, ______________.

12. (in any place in the sentence) A or B or C. A and B and C.

13. You may want to vary the previous patter at times and write a series with conjunctions between all items (but usually not more than three.)

14.  Looking down from the Empire State Building, I felt thrilled and amazed—and scared.  Even though he is smart, I have never seen Keith arrogant or annoyed or impatient.

15. 1. The best programs on TV now are ___________ and ____________and __________. 2. The science conference board couldn’t decide whether to concentrate on ____________ or ____________or ___________. 3. All that is __________ or __________ or ___________ or ___________ seems to be harmful to one’s health. 4. _________ and _________ and ___________ seem to be issues for many students. 5. Now create a sentence on your own.