I might have to change the focus of this blog from grammar to Mad Men. All I want to do is talk about the show. I want to talk about what they’re going to do with Sally’s character and how handsome Don Draper is and how funny Roger Sterling is this season. I’m particularly obsessed with Don’s new wife, Meghan. I thought her "Zou Bisou Bisou" rendition was awesome. I knew it was only a matter of time before Don remarried because psychologist Dr. Faye Miller foreshadowed it when she said, “You’ll be married again in a year. I forget that some people don’t like to think they’re a type.”
The part about people not liking to think they’re a type really stuck with me. I, of course, would like to think that I am a unique, little snowflake, but a few years ago I learned that I was a type. Someone said to me, “You’re an English teacher and you drive a Saab; you must be a liberal.” Apparently, I’m a cliché!
I guess there is something comforting about knowing that there are like-minded people out there. And it’s also nice to know that, thanks to the comma, I have some control over how much I can emphasize those similarities.
For example, let’s say I met a liberal-minded, English-teaching, Saab driver with Don Draper’s looks, Roger Sterling’s sense of humor, and Peggy Olsen’s feminist ideals. I would definitely want to stress our similarities. Therefore, if he said, “I love heirloom tomatoes,” I would respond with:
I, too, love heirloom tomatoes.
I love heirloom tomatoes, too.
Using commas with too emphasizes it. If we don’t want to emphasize the too, we simply don’t use commas:
I too love heirloom tomatoes.
I love heirloom tomatoes too.
Okay, so enough of that grammar nonsense. Do you think Betty and Meghan will meet? Do you think Joan’s husband will come home from Vietnam to a silver-haired baby? Do you think Don will cheat on Meghan?
Is it Sunday night yet?
19 comments:
You're about the third person I've heard raving about Mad Men in the last few days. I, too, am going to have to watch it and see if it is emphasis worthy.
I don't watch Mad Men (we don't have cable, and I watched the first episode on Netflix and was mostly not impressed) but I do feel strongly about commas. I'm an editor of legal stuff, and I have to say, it appears that very few lawyers actually know what a comma is or what to do with one.
I, too, like the way commas can stress certain portions of a sentence.
And heirloom tomatoes, too.
But spoilers for tv shows that haven't aired in my neck of the woods - not so much!
I don't watch mad men, but I do try to use commas to accentuate parts of a sentence, too.
So it's spelled Zou Bisou Bisou?
I've been singing Zoobie Zoobie Zoo all week.
:)
I've not watched Mad Men yet. I will have to try it out. Perhaps I will like it, too. :)
i havent started on Mad Men although i have them. probably should start watching :p
I, too, love to talk about and analyze Mad Men. Great lesson, BTW.
I think Meghan is a great character and I love that she's already starting to bug Don. I love watching him squirm.
I was amazed at how fast Sally has grown up, she doesn't even sound the same.
If Betty meets Meghan, you know that she's going to totally act superior, maybe make snarky comments.
Oh and yes, I think Don will cheat. But first he needs to get her out of the office. I predict he will knock her up and move her to the suburbs.
I need to start watching "Mad Men," too.
I'm sorry, but I don't watch Madmen.
I bet people reading this post will breath a sigh of relief because the commas are optional. Can't be wrong!
Having not seen the show (or film) you are talking about, I find that I cannot comment on it, except to say your former sounds better than your latter.
Thank you.
Been meaning to watch that show.
I don't get all the Mad Men hype. I tried watching the show once, but I couldn't get into it...
Interestingly enough, I am far more interested in the comma and the hyphen than I am television. I may not use them properly, but I do indeed love them. I, too am a liberal!
I've never watched an episode of Mad Men before. Maybe I should start?
I've never watched Mad Men, but your post was still very amusing. :) I'm ashamed to say that I probably overuse commas. Long sentences with no commas drive me nuts!
I know nothing about the tv show here.
In your response to "I love heirloom etc", either of the two responses is correct, correct?
I agree.
I know I'm so late to this, but thanks for the comma lesson.
And I may be the only person that hasn't seen Mad Men. One day when my kids are much older. I will sit and finally watch all the cool TV series I've been missing!
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