The Oxford Comma

[heyzeus]

Grammarnerdvote!

[JackofDiamonds]

Grammarnerdvote!

Use it or I will think less of you.

[haltz]

I think I usually do, because if you read the sentence aloud or silently back to yourself, the beats make more sense with that last comma in there. Basically, that's the basis for all of my grammar decisions. Honestly, I really have no idea where commas go. I might as well hang the text on a wall and throw darts.

[slide_into_first]

I think it is of lower priority when there are so many other types of writing errors today, because people are lazy, rely on spell check or are uneducated.

[AdmiralKird]

Heyzeus needs to add another pony to his avatar.

http://gatewayredbirds.com/forum/viewto ... =4&t=43236

[MrSaigon]

Only if perfectly necessary, like if your list ended in Rodgers and Hammerstein or something--but even then, unless it's a list of duos, you could do some rearranging. All the greats will tell you to emit useless words. I bet they'd feel similar about punctuation.

I actually read this from Mark Twain in my new daybook just yesterday:
"Substitute 'damn' every time you're inclined to write 'very;' your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be."

'Omit' not 'emit.'

[AdmiralKird]

I actually read this from Mark Twain in my new daybook just yesterday:
"Substitute 'damn' every time you're inclined to write 'very;' your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be."

My AP US History teacher in High School used to write curse adjectives into his notes to keep him awake and happy. Sometimes he'd run across something good and we'd have to wait a few seconds so he could chuckle to himself.

[lukethedrifter]

Heyzeus needs to add another pony to his avatar.

http://gatewayredbirds.com/forum/viewto ... =4&t=43236

That might not be the only other Oxford comma thread out there in the GRB ether.

[Swirls]

Stolen from Rad's post in the other linked Oxford comma thread.

[jeffbgoofy]

Ok, that last example explains to us stupid people what the hell and Oxford comma is. Thank you Swirls