I found this little graphic on Facebook and had to share it here. I thought it was awesome. I personally like the Oxford comma. I use it when I write. Although I don’t feel so strongly that I get annoyed or angry at books that don’t use it. What about you? How do you feel about the Oxford comma?
– Ermisenda
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I’m Canadian and am confused. We don’t use the Oxford comma. I’m not even sure anymore. See. I’m confused again.
Haha. š A little video that explains it with nice visuals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLMawsZ4vdo
I have been using the Oxford comma and hope I have been consistent. š
It’s all about being consistent! š
Yes, that’s what they say. I’m Canadian and on WP, American spelling if in place. I keep switching from Canadian spelling and wonder if soon I’ll forget it. š®
I use it. It’s logical. I could go on, but you wouldn’t be bothered to read a pedantic diatribe. However, what I NEVER do is use tautology. The graphic does. Tut tut.
I think it’s logical too! I never knew what tautology was until you mentioned it. What a curious word.
Pedants pick some awesomely silly things to argue about. They have to channel all of that not-getting-laid energy into something, right?
I’m pedantry-and-Oxford Comma positive. But I’m seeing a specialist. š
You don’t mention for what. š
I use it sometimes. It all depends on what meaning I wish to portray, as occasionally it makes a difference. No-one should be hide-bound to any particular detail of grammatical ‘correctness’ without first deciding on what is intended to be understood. I could give examples where the use or absence of the Oxford comma alters the meaning of the sentence, but I’ll leave that task to anyone interested enough to work it out from first principles.
It is definitely about communicating the right ‘meaning’. For me, I feel like it makes things clearer. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. š
i am quite attached to the oxford comma and i feel sad when i see it not used. i guess i don’t understand why some don’t use it. did they decide we didn’t need it anymore, like pluto? it feels like laziness and neglect. i can overlook someone not using the oxford comma and enjoy writing without it, just a little bit less than i would have with it.
Haha ‘like pluto?’ Thanks for the comment Valerie. I feel like it adds clarity to writing. I think people who don’t use it, probably aren’t always aware of it?
In college, I learned to jump between not using the “extra” comma, and using it. My BA is journalism, in which NEVER shall a serial comma seen; my minor is English, where some prof might have a hissy fit if it was left out. I can only guess that in the days of lead type, it was just one more piece of lead to use. I can picture a new person in the printshop being yelled at to get the lead out.
Yeah. I’ve noticed that pretty much all supporters of the oxford comma I’ve interacted with are creative/writing/English studies types. I can see why it wouldn’t be wanted in journalism.