The Oxford comma: yea or nay? - Democratic Underground

Telly Savalas

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Sat Nov-19-05 11:15 PM
Original message

Poll question: The Oxford comma: yea or nay?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_comma

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C_eh_N_eh_D_eh

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Sat Nov-19-05 11:21 PM
Response to Original message

1. It's just proper grammar.

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RevCheesehead

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Sat Nov-19-05 11:21 PM
Response to Original message

2. If you've ever read scripture out loud, you'll understand why...

we need the Oxford Comma (even though i prefer "Serial Comma," because it sounds risque):

"So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger." (Luke 2: 16)

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Cats Against Frist

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Sat Nov-19-05 11:23 PM
Response to Original message

3. As a journalism student, I voted nay

But since I'm now in the English field, I get a lot of shit for not using it.

I really have no love for it.

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fishwax

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Sat Nov-19-05 11:24 PM
Response to Original message

4. I'm generally okay either way, but the serial comma prevents

misunderstanding in some situations, whereas the lack of a serial comma can occasionally cause confusion/miscommunication ...

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Elidor

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Sat Nov-19-05 11:31 PM
Response to Original message

5. My boss and I argued about this just last week

Although a chronic serial comma user, I've been training myself to use the Oxford in typesetting, because my SO, who is a teacher, tells me they're being told to teach Oxford commas in school again (a reversal). My boss, a journalism major, insists it's wrong. I see that both have their places. Gee, does this make me a usage geek?

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Telly Savalas

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Sat Nov-19-05 11:36 PM
Response to Reply #5

6. Most authorities consider the serial comma to be proper...

but it's a convention in North American journalism not to use it. And it seems that in financial statements it's not used either.

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yewberry

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Sat Nov-19-05 11:50 PM
Response to Original message

7. Well, Chicago Manual says yes, so yes it is.

Philistine.

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Redstone

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Sat Nov-19-05 11:53 PM
Response to Original message

8. It's a necessity.

Without it, there is only confusion.

Redstone

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NMMNG

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Sun Nov-20-05 01:24 AM
Response to Original message

9. Both English class and Journalism class told me nay

:shrug:

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JVS

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Sun Nov-20-05 01:30 AM
Response to Original message

10. It is the true path of punctuation righteousness!

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