The Oxford Comma
 

Saw this on 538, and figured I'd poll the board on this highly controversial subject. Hopefully this isn't too off-topic here on Food Planet. (Why hasn't the lounge been renamed to that yet, by the way?)

The Oxford comma is the last comma before the "and" in a list of 3 or more things. For example, which one of these looks correct to you:

Denver, Oakland, and San Diego can all go to hell. (oxford comma)

Denver, Oakland and San Diego can all go to hell. (no oxford comma)

With

Hello, commatard on the loose.

,,,

I usually do unless I feel rebellious, then I leave it out.

They both are correct, but it is a matter of how to get them there.

Just say no

AP sez no comma. I must abide by AP. AP is wisdom. AP is life. AP is God.

Oxford Comma4Lyfe

i use it

The last few years I've made a conscious effort to stop using the Oxford comma. It's pretty much second nature for me now.

The one that threw me for a loop recently was learning that the 2-space rule after periods I was taught and have used virtually my whole life was wrong. I'm still struggling with that.

Never got called on it in 6 years of school..

Two spaces is not wrong. That's just typographers being assholes.

That's horseshit, I don't care what anyone says.

The 2-space rule only exists because of typewriters, not because it makes any kind of grammatical sense. It is not necessary in the age of modern word processors that can handle kerning.

No, because I was taught it was not needed. Never knew there was a controversy over it. Tho' I'd seen it used, I just thought it was error.

Between this and some posts between Austin and Loneiguana, are we gonna name this place Grammar Planet now?