function quibble(a, n, i, s) { for (i = 1; i < n - 1; i++) s = s a[i] ", " i = n - 1; if (i > 0) s = s a[i] " and " if (n > 0) s = s a[n] return "{" s "}" } BEGIN { print quibble(a, 0) n = split("ABC", b); print quibble(b, n) n = split("ABC DEF", c); print quibble(c, n) n = split("ABC DEF G H", d); print quibble(d, n) }