Survey time!

[icepixie]

Take a look at my userpics. Comment thusly: of those, which do you most associate with me?

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Polls! Because I realized that I've had a paid account for rather a long time now and I've made, like, three polls. This should be rectified immediately.

The first of today's polls is brought to you by this poem about serial commas. (A serial comma occurs here: Billy, Bob, and Jane. It does not occur here: Billy, Bob and Jane.)

[Poll #744031]
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The second of today's polls comes about because it was recently discussed on a message board I visit. Also, everyone loves food. This poll may be applicable only to Americans.

[Poll #744032]

Comments

[gamesiplay.livejournal.com]

Re: icons-- probably the Wonderfalls one. (I still really, really need to see that show.)

Re: the second poll... well, technically I'm from the South. Below the Mason-Dixon Line, anyway. I have had so many damn arguments on the subject that I'm cautious about identifying myself that way, though. :D

[alto2.livejournal.com]

Hmm, well...I believe I'm what you might call your friendly local anomaly. ::waves:: Which is why I did my best with your polls, but can't say as I answered them 100% accurately (also, kinda skipping the icon thing since I've known you for...a week? Not really enough time to build up an association, though I think 8 was the first one I saw, for what that's worth).

Commas: I am a vehement believer in the serial comma, as I feel it's far more clear. As an example, I once heard of a court case in which an inheritance was to be divided equally among Bob, Sue, Joe and Mary. The reason it went to court was because the Bob and Sue each wanted the cash to be divided into thirds, while Joe and Mary wanted it divided into quarters. The whole thing hinged on the serial comma, or lack thereof. In my ever-so-humble English teacher role, I firmly believe that it never should have been considered optional.

That said, your poll refers to spelling as well as grammar, and honestly, having lived in the UK for a while, and marinated myself in imported UK television and literature for the last 20 years, I use whichever. Sometimes I'm not even aware that I'm switching back and forth, or if I happen to type realise or organise, I just don't bother to switch it back. (This is a fairly recent development since I basically got tired of fighting it--in high school I used British spelling pretty exclusively and was the only kid in my class to have words like "color" on their misspelled-words quiz--I'd spell them the US way on the quiz and then happily go on my merry way doing whatever I liked--and so it's even odds now which one you'll get from me. I do pay more attention for "official" documents, but otherwise, I just don't care.)

As for the dressing/stuffing thing, I'm from PA Dutch country, where nobody talks about "dressing" unless it's something you put on a salad. At Thanksgiving, you have "stuffing" or "filling," and in my family, they both mean the same thing. I have heard that in some areas, "filling" is cooked in a dish and "stuffing" is cooked in the bird, but I can't speak to that from my own experience.

And that had to be at least twice as much information as you were looking for! :)

[alethialia.livejournal.com]

Okay, serial commas are correct, right? Because I see a lot of variation in this.

Also, uhh, I'm from CA. Does that count as North or South?

[ladysorka]

Though really, my answer to the first one is "Yes; I use a funky combination of British and American spelling and grammar."

[curvycrip.livejournal.com]

I'd go with "blue skaters", "winter in store", or "A/P connection"

[nickless.livejournal.com]

Poll 1 -
I almost always use serial commas (it usually has to be a conscious effort not to), but since I know that the rule is changing, I teach my kids that they'll see it both ways and that both are correct. Although it about kills me every time... *g*

Poll 2 -
I have no clue. I know we use both words, but I don't know if they're interchangeable or not. If they're not, then I'm pretty sure it's stuffing=in the bird, dressing=in a pan. I honestly don't pay attention because I refuse to eat it. :) Which is why the second question in that poll baffles me.

[castalianspring.livejournal.com]

I've heard the serial comma called the Oxford comma, as well. For a while I stopped using it b/c I felt too many commas cluttered up a sentence, but the potential for confusion made me start using it again.

I'm from the South and we call it dressing, usually, but I didn't take the poll b/c I don't really eat the dressing so have no idea whatsoever what it's made of.

[cheekygal.livejournal.com]

For the icons, definitely the "Oh, crap! It's the fashion police!" because it makes me giggle like a mad, silly woman. ;)

[rowdycamels.livejournal.com]

Icons: grammar (bwah!), swans (of course), and the smooshed-face lion. (That should pretty much answer the comma question, too...) And I just noticed your new purple icon. Hee!