grammar - Omitting "and" in a sentence



He called her, emailed her, texted her, tweeted her—all to no use.



Strictly speaking, I would need to write texted her and tweeted her, but I'm omitting and to convey a rhythm and sense of urgency. What do you call this kind of construction, and is it accepted grammar (at least for creative writing, if not in an academic context)?



Answer



It's a rhetorical device called asyndeton, and you can find its definition (as well as those of other rhetorical figures) here.



Asyndeton consists of omitting conjunctions between words, phrases, or clauses. In a list of items, asyndeton gives the effect of unpremeditated multiplicity, of an extemporaneous rather than a labored account: On his return he received medals, honors, treasures, titles, fame.



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