Oxford Comma

[Harrier]

Speaking as a professional editor, the Oxford comma is unnecessary, redundant and useless.

 

[VikingsGuy]

Speaking as a professional editor, the Oxford comma is unnecessary, redundant and useless.

Speaking as a professional attorney, the Oxford comma can make a big difference in technical outcomes so folks who care about specificity need to be purposeful with its use/non-use.

 

[mtmiller]

Arguing with a lawyer is like wrestling with a pig in mud — sooner or later, you realize they like it.

 

[elkduds]

If it adds clarity, I go w OC. Otherwise, I mix it up to keep composition spicy.

 

[manitou1]

I quit using it a few years back once I discovered it was not required. Looks "neater". To be honest, I didn't know what it was called.

 

[Beignet]

Soooo, what's everyone's favorite style manual? I usually reach for Chicago.

Turkey season starts soon.

4 Copy Editors Killed In Ongoing AP Style, Chicago Manual Gang Violence

NEW YORK—Law enforcement officials confirmed Friday that four more copy editors were killed this week amid ongoing violence between two rival gangs divided by their loyalties to the The Associated Press Stylebook and The Chicago Manual Of Style. “At this time we have reason to believe the...

www.theonion.com

 

[noharleyyet]

Speaking as a professional attorney, the Oxford comma can make a big difference in technical outcomes so folks who care about specificity need to be purposeful with its use/non-use.

However, when on the battlefield...

 

[RobertD]

We probably could reduce overall comma use in the English language by 20% and not sacrifice much in the way of clarity/readability.

 

[Deleted member 28227]

We probably could reduce overall comma use in the English language by 20% and not sacrifice much in the way of clarity/readability.

Because people write so poorly to being with...agree, it's like blaze orange laws.

 

[WildWill]

1 page can be ignored but 2 comma on.

 

[Cheesehead]

 

[grizzly_]

Speaking as a professional attorney, the Oxford comma can make a big difference in technical outcomes so folks who care about specificity need to be purposeful with its use/non-use.

He's right.

The lack of an Oxford Comma after "shipment" in the sentence below cost $5,000,000; and all because somebody said the Oxford comma was unnecessary and slowed down the reader

“The canning, processing, preserving, freezing, drying, marketing, storing, packing for shipment or distribution of:

Maine dairy company settles Oxford comma suit for $5 million

A Maine dairy company has settled a lawsuit over an overtime dispute that was the subject of a ruling that hinged on the use of the Oxford comma.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[VikingsGuy]

He's right.

The lack of an Oxford Comma after "shipment" in the sentence below cost $5,000,000; and all because somebody said the Oxford comma was unnecessary and slowed down the reader

“The canning, processing, preserving, freezing, drying, marketing, storing, packing for shipment or distribution of:

Maine dairy company settles Oxford comma suit for $5 million

A Maine dairy company has settled a lawsuit over an overtime dispute that was the subject of a ruling that hinged on the use of the Oxford comma.

www.nbcnews.com

Seems like someone should have raised the "no crying over spilled milk" defense.

 

[longbow51]

Speaking as a professional editor, the Oxford comma is unnecessary, redundant and useless.

And that sentence, cries out for a comma

 

[longbow51]

Speaking as a professional attorney, the Oxford comma can make a big difference in technical outcomes so folks who care about specificity need to be purposeful with its use/non-use.

I thought you were a biochemist now? Anyway, when in technical mode, always add commas, in Excel formulae, when in doubt, always add parentheses.

BTW worked in organic chemistry research for 3 years and loved it. Not many jobs in MT, ID, WY, NM at the time or might have stuck with it.

 

[VikingsGuy]

I thought you were a biochemist now?

I had a career change mid-stream.

 

[VikingsGuy]

And that sentence, cries out for a comma

When I am typing on an iphone keyboard that is too small for my thumbs, text that is too small for my aging eyes to see, you get what you get. A bit of modern ee cummings approach to grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure in the end.

 

[RobertD]

Because people write so poorly to being with...agree, it's like blaze orange laws.

My students almost as a rule use commas more often than they should, not less. The real issue with people's writing is definitely a lot deeper than punctuation though regardless.

 

[noharleyyet]

Know your chit, or know you're chit (oxford interrogative or demonstrative)

 

[220yotekiller]

Soooo, what's everyone's favorite style manual? I usually reach for Chicago.

Turkey season starts soon.

4 Copy Editors Killed In Ongoing AP Style, Chicago Manual Gang Violence

NEW YORK—Law enforcement officials confirmed Friday that four more copy editors were killed this week amid ongoing violence between two rival gangs divided by their loyalties to the The Associated Press Stylebook and The Chicago Manual Of Style. “At this time we have reason to believe the...

www.theonion.com

Chicago has the Chicago typewriters, it might be healthier to be on their side.