Poll: Oxford Comma

[Seldon2639]

Just a curiosity, how many people here use the Oxford comma?

Basically, without it a list looks like this:

"red, white and blue"

With it, it looks like this:

"red, white, and blue".

Just a quick poll, so I'm not expecting anything by way of flames. Though, I've seen pretty impressive arguments start over less.

Edit: I added a third option, for people who don't believe there's a "rule" governing it. We're talking about the specific serial comma circumstance, though, so it's pretty diametric.

 

[Tech Team FTW!]

Huh, I always thought that the use of the comma in such circumstances was a wierd American offshoot.

 

[Horticulture]

Arguments typically advanced for use of the serial comma by default include:

1. that it better matches the spoken cadence of sentences;[10]
2. that it sometimes reduces ambiguity;[11]
3. that its use matches practice with other means of separating items in a list (example: when semicolons are used to separate items, a semicolon is consistently included before the last item, even when and or or is present).[12]

Arguments typically advanced for avoidance of the serial comma by default include:

1. that absence of the comma better matches the spoken cadence of sentences;
2. that use of the comma is against conventional practice;[13]
3. that use of the comma may introduce ambiguity (see examples below);
4. that the comma is redundant, since the and or the or serves by itself to mark the logical separation between the final two items.[14]


I love it when there's consensus on grammar...

 

[Lexodus]

Yes! The Oxford Comma prevails!

 

[blankedboy]

I use it all the time, every time, and each time.

 

[PayNSprayBandit]

I go by Strunk and White's "The Elements of Style", so, yes.

 

[bjj hero]

I was taught not to use a comma with "and" or "but". I still don't.

Red, white and blue.

You know it makes sense.

 

[dwightsteel]

Just a curiosity, how many people here use the Oxford comma?

Basically, without it a list looks like this:

"red, white and blue"

With it, it looks like this:

"red, white, and blue".

Just a quick poll, so I'm not expecting anything by way of flames. Though, I've seen pretty impressive arguments start over less.

Dude. A post about Metaphysical Objectivism and now one about comma usage? Shit dude, you're gonna make my head explode. You're reminding me far too much of my old debate coach.

 

[dwightsteel]

Oh, and I usually opt for the Oxford comma. But I tend to be really picky about my use of punctuation.

 

[Seldon2639]

Oh, and I usually opt for the Oxford comma. But I tend to be really picky about my use of punctuation.

Bwahahahahaha, it's all part of my devious plan. If I can just make your head explode, I get the next one free.

 

[D_987]

The Oxford Comma is necessary. Example:

And an interview with the Pope, a clown and a whore.

And an interview with the Pope, a clown, and a whore.

I believe I have proven my point.

Hats off to you.

 

[WolfThomas]

It burnsss us.

 

[S.H.A.R.P.]

I use it sometimes, though it is hardly a conscious effort, and is more my opinion on what I think looks pretty at the moment.

 

[Seldon2639]

It burnsss us.

I have no idea what you mean, but it made me laugh.

 

[GloatingSwine]

I love it when there's consensus on grammar...

You do know that the grammatical rules of English were specifically designed to confuse and annoy foreigners, right?

 

[Trilby]

There is no hard and fast rule stating "Always/never use the Oxford Comma". It depends on the circumstances. Can we have a third option for people who just write clearly and correctly?

 

[Uncompetative]

Avoid ambiguity. Avoid unnecessary 'cruft'.

 

[WolfThomas]

It burnsss us.

I have no idea what you mean, but it made me laugh.

Attempted Gollum impersonation...

 

[Seldon2639]

It burnsss us.

I have no idea what you mean, but it made me laugh.

Attempted Gollum impersonation...

Well, yes, I got that part. I just didn't understand what burnsss you.

 

[WolfThomas]

It burnsss us.

I have no idea what you mean, but it made me laugh.

Attempted Gollum impersonation...

Well, yes, I got that part. I just didn't understand what burnsss you.

Was never taught it and never used it in my life. I don't know why it just looks incredibly wrong to me.