Endangered Punctuation

[PennLady]

A new rule has been issued on comma usage. Auuggghhh!

http://www.salon.com/books/grammar/...e/2011/06/30/death_of_the_serial_oxford_comma

 

[mynameisben]

A new rule has been issued on comma usage. Auuggghhh!

http://www.salon.com/books/grammar/...e/2011/06/30/death_of_the_serial_oxford_comma

As William Shattner would say, "It. Just. Doesn't. Matter."

 

[PennLady]

As William Shattner would say, "It. Just. Doesn't. Matter."

He'll be in serious trouble if they issue rules about periods!

LOL

 

[colddiesel]

My view is, that a rule in this case is unnecessary. Most of the time the extra comma is not needed, but sometimes it improves the flow or rhythm of a sentence, particularly when one wishes to add emphasis to the final element.

Rules are for guidance and should not be dismissed lightly, but when there is an arguable case for doing so, then they can at least be bent a little.

A good knowledge and generally consistent application of a rule based system of punctuation is essential, but slavish adherence in all circumstances can on occasion be quite wrong.

 

[sr71plt]

When you get to the end of the article, you find out that the "rule" is for internal communications, not published material--and that it is a new rule.

Few in American publishing use Oxford anyway.

 

[Goldie Munro]

Many forms of punctuation are just not relevant any more. In common usage who cares if you use the Oxford comma? As long as what you are trying to communicate makes sense most won't know, or care, whether it has the correct punctuation.

Colons and semi colons are almost extinct.

 

[sr71plt]

Many forms of punctuation are just not relevant any more. In common usage who cares if you use the Oxford comma? As long as what you are trying to communicate makes sense most won't know, or care, whether it has the correct punctuation.

Colons and semi colons are almost extinct.

Your readers might differ on that. (On the other hand, your particular readers seemed to be pleased with your style.)

 

[Boxlicker101]

I use cereal commas sometimes. I like Cheerios, Wheaties and Rice Crispies.

 

[Boxlicker101]

Many forms of punctuation are just not relevant any more. In common usage who cares if you use the Oxford comma? As long as what you are trying to communicate makes sense most won't know, or care, whether it has the correct punctuation.

Colons and semi colons are almost extinct.

I disagree with both statements. Correct punctuation is very important if you want your writing to make sense, and every story I have ever written on this site includes some semicolons.

 

[sr71plt]

I'm a slave to the em dash myself.

 

[Never]

A new rule has been issued on comma usage. Auuggghhh!

http://www.salon.com/books/grammar/...e/2011/06/30/death_of_the_serial_oxford_comma

They make take my life but they shall never take my oxford comma.

 

[Boxlicker101]

I would never use the Oxford comma in listing a string or nouns or adjectives, but I might use it in listing a series of actions. Here is an example of what I mean: "The clasp on her bra was a simple one, and I unfastened it, pulled it off, and dropped the bra on the floor, letting her luscious breasts spill free."

Even then, I don't really need it.

ETA: I also usually use a comma between clauses of a compound sentence. I probably tend to overuse them.

 

[sr71plt]

I probably tend to overuse them.

Apparently not. Certainly not after you've posted where you don't use them.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

I always use the Oxford comma, even though I heard it was optional way back when learning comma usage in grade school. It just seemed appropriate to me. This decree will not stop my usage of it for even a moment.

That is the way to turn back the clock on decisions like this. Ignore the new rule, and stick with the old rule. Let time tell whether we were right or not. If they say, "Don't use the Oxford comma," and we keep using the Oxford comma, then the new rule never existed and we were right to keep using it. If we keep using it, but it dies out with us, then we were wrong and the rule was right

 

[mynameisben]

"Sure. I'll tell you what I think of the Oxford rule. Comma, comma, comma, comma, and comma chameleon. It comes and goes." - Boy George

 

[leyna]

The Oxford Comma is NOT optional! It indicates that the last two things in a list are SEPARATE!!!!

Sorry.

Rant over.

 

[sr71plt]

That is the way to turn back the clock on decisions like this. Ignore the new rule, and stick with the old rule.(

As I noted above, if you read to the end of the article, this is neither a "rule" for published material (it is for internal Oxford communications) nor a new rule.

Also, Oxford isn't used by most American publishers. It's for the British market, not the American market. (And in the American system, the Oxford comma isn't optional for publishable material. It's optional for personal correspondence.)

 

[estragon]

Except that some authorities have called it the "Harvard comma". I myself do not like the serial comma, and don't use it. When I quibble, I decry the Oxford, Harvard or serial comma. I just did so in a lengthy e-mail exchange with TantricJim. I suppose I am a serial comma killer.

 

[SydneyBlake]

A new rule has been issued on comma usage. Auuggghhh!

http://www.salon.com/books/grammar/...e/2011/06/30/death_of_the_serial_oxford_comma

I thought that was the rule anyway. Fuck. No wonder I drive estragon nuts. Wait a minute, he was already nuts. Never mind.

I'd never heard of the Oxford comma. What do they think of it over at Cambridge?

 

[SydneyBlake]

. I suppose I am a serial comma killer.

Lmfao.

Love it.

 

[Boxlicker101]

Except that some authorities have called it the "Harvard comma". I myself do not like the serial comma, and don't use it. When I quibble, I decry the Oxford, Harvard or serial comma. I just did so in a lengthy e-mail exchange with TantricJim. I suppose I am a serial comma killer.

I believe you need commas for words or phrases in a series in able to know what is being said. The final comma, the one preceding the conjunction, is not always necessary, but I use it if I think it is. This is sttictly a matter of the writer's judgement.

 

[sr71plt]

This is sttictly a matter of the writer's judgement.

Unless you want to have it published by someone else. Then you have to negotiate what's going to happen.

As long as you're consistent and the bot doesn't check it, you can have the choice in publishing it on Literotica.

 

[Tio_Narratore]

The Oxford Comma is NOT optional! It indicates that the last two things in a list are SEPARATE!!!!

Sorry.

Rant over.

Way to go, Lenya! Let's make it the default rule rather than suggest it's optional by giving it a name. How about we call the absence of that comma the "Cambridge un-comma?"

 

[Boxlicker101]

Quote:
Originally Posted by leyna
The Oxford Comma is NOT optional! It indicates that the last two things in a list are SEPARATE!!!!

Sorry.

Rant over.

Way to go, Lenya! Let's make it the default rule rather than suggest it's optional by giving it a name. How about we call the absence of that comma the "Cambridge un-comma?"

Under those circumstances, I would use the Oxford comma: I visited some law firms: Smith and Jones, Flim and Flam, and Horn and Swoggle. There, I want to make it clear there are three firms, not two. Without the last comma, a reader might think I meant Flim and Flam and Horn and Swoggle as one firm.

 

[leyna]

Well...Forgive me for my passion - I AM an English Teacher. We tend to get VERY passionate about such things.