Poop The Oxford Comma - Page 6

**alnorth** · 06-17-2014, 11:42 AM

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)

**Fire Me Boy!** · 06-17-2014, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

I'm not wrong, and your own understanding of the typewriter situation should tell you that.

Christ, you people are failing logic 101.

Typesetting was around WAY before typewriters.

BucEyedPea · 06-17-2014, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fried Meat Ball!

He doesn't like being wrong, apparently. He's dug in and can't give in now.

Looks like it. Note on time: 2:27 for my post. His is at 2:29. Plenty of time for me to make an edit without an edit line showing. So it remains corrected before he even calls it out.

Just Passin' By · 06-17-2014, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BucEyedPea

Uh, I said I caught it and BEFORE you noted it. I usually edit after I post. I think you're acting pretty defensive.

I'm not defensive at all. I may be a bit rushed, since I've got 3 people using non-logic to say the same basic thing time and again, and I'm doing my best to respond before I have to leave.

Regarding your grammar error. You screwed up a simple rule. I pointed it out. You're the one who's been defensive about it. Look to your own self on this one.

Now, I've got to run. Have fun insisting a preference is actually a rule.

**alnorth** · 06-17-2014, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

I'm not wrong, and your own understanding of the typewriter situation should tell you that.

Christ, you people are failing logic 101.

A workaround is, by its nature, intended to be temporary. A workaround rule is not usually permanent when the need for a workaround comes to an end.

The 2-space rule is correct when you are using an old-fashioned typewriter in certain fonts.

In every other case, the 2-space rule does not apply, and the use of the extra space is not correct.

The same can't be said for the Oxford Comma, there we have a real controversy with rational reasons backing up both sides.

BucEyedPea · 06-17-2014, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

I'm not wrong, and your own understanding of the typewriter situation should tell you that.

Christ, you people are failing logic 101.

It has nothing to do with logic. It has to do with change. Technology just improves how we can do things.

BTW there's even a PC version of the book I mentioned:

Your PC is not a typewriter

http://www.imarc.net/blog/727-your_p...t_a_typewriter

BucEyedPea · 06-17-2014, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

Regarding your grammar error. You screwed up a simple rule. I pointed it out. You're the one who's been defensive about it. Look to your own self on this one.

The time log disputes your claim. And it's also irrelevant to the topic.
Hey, I make typos including using its when I needed it's.

Quote:

Now, I've got to run. Have fun insisting a preference is actually a rule.

LOL If you're still in printing, you should know better. But okay.

**Fire Me Boy!** · 06-17-2014, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

I'm not wrong, and your own understanding of the typewriter situation should tell you that.

Christ, you people are failing logic 101.

Typesetting in the non-typewriter world was one space. The typewriter came around and they had to figure out how to deal with no kearning. So typewriter users started using two spaces. This doesn't make it right. It's a workaround that goes against established workflow. Now that typewriters are basically nonexistent, the established rules should rein.

**ptlyon** · 06-17-2014, 01:03 PM

eDave · 06-17-2014, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ptlyon

,,,,

q

**ptlyon** · 06-17-2014, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eDave

q

DAMMIT

**alnorth** · 06-17-2014, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eDave

q

Its hilarious how devastating a single letter in a response can be.

eDave · 06-17-2014, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alnorth

Its hilarious how devastating a single letter in a response can be.

To be fair to our friend ptlyon, the original comment was just 3 commas.

Sorry ptlyon.

Aries Walker · 06-17-2014, 01:23 PM

I grew up with the two spaces rule, the reasoning being that it differentiates between a period used for, say, an abbreviation, and a period denoting the end of a sentence. It's a dying argument, though, because if nothing else HTML and other computer applications automatically take it out. I'm OK with that.

Regarding the Oxford Comma, however, I am resolute. There is no reason not to have it - it doesn't disrupt flow, it isn't ugly, and it doesn't confuse the message. Its benefits, however, are clear, as the Gilligan's Island example shows. I don't care what the AP says, it should be in.

The day that computers ever start automatically removing Oxford Commas is the day I set mine on fire and dump it in the river.

**ptlyon** · 06-17-2014, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eDave

To be fair to our friend ptlyon, the original comment was just 3 commas.

Sorry ptlyon.

So was the correct answer 3 or 4?

Don't remember

lcarus · 06-17-2014, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alnorth

There's actually not a clear winner on this, its pretty split down the middle right now.

Speaking of unnecessary commas...

Should be a period there homie

View Poll Results: Do you use the Oxford Comma?
Yes	51	68.92%
No	21	28.38%
Comma? Hell I barely use punctuation at all	2	2.70%
Voters: 74. You may not vote on this poll

06-17-2014, 11:42 AM
alnorth . Join Date: Dec 2002 Casino cash: $57166239	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)
Posts: 36,130

06-17-2014, 01:03 PM	#83
ptlyon Bono & Grbac wasn't enough Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Sioux City, IA Casino cash: $12583829	,,,, __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Advertise here: $19.99 a month
Posts: 34,260

06-17-2014, 01:23 PM	#88
Aries Walker Back again, again. Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: York, PA Casino cash: $9583357	I grew up with the two spaces rule, the reasoning being that it differentiates between a period used for, say, an abbreviation, and a period denoting the end of a sentence. It's a dying argument, though, because if nothing else HTML and other computer applications automatically take it out. I'm OK with that. Regarding the Oxford Comma, however, I am resolute. There is no reason not to have it - it doesn't disrupt flow, it isn't ugly, and it doesn't confuse the message. Its benefits, however, are clear, as the Gilligan's Island example shows. I don't care what the AP says, it should be in. The day that computers ever start automatically removing Oxford Commas is the day I set mine on fire and dump it in the river.
Posts: 8,179