The Oxford Comma

[alnorth]

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)

[Rain Man]

It appears that the thread has moved away from the opening post, but I just wanted to share that the Oxford comma is absolutely necessary. With the Oxford comma, I read this way.

San Diego, Denver, and Oakland

Without it, I read this way.

San Diego, DenverandOakland

It really bothers me.

Additionally, it's necessary sometimes for context. If it's not there, I assume that the final two items are the objects of another phrase until I get confused and re-read.

[Fire Me Boy!]

Originally Posted by lcarus

Speaking of unnecessary commas...

Should be a period there homie

Actually, a semicolon there would have been correct.

Not to mention the correct use of it's.

[eDave]

Originally Posted by ptlyon

So was the correct answer 3 or 4?

Don't remember

Semi-colon.

[Reaper16]

I use the Oxford Comma 100% of the time. I've fought with editors over keeping it in a piece.

Being under 30 years old, I laughed out loud when I first learned that people were once taught to do two spaces. There's never been a need for it in my lifetime. Also, two spaces looks awful.

[lcarus]

Originally Posted by Fried Meat Ball!

Actually, a semicolon there would have been correct.

Not to mention the correct use of it's.

I've never been a big fan of the semicolon.

[Jiu Jitsu Jon]

Comma Comma Comma Comma Com-ma Chameleon....you come and go, you come and goooooo".

[lcarus]

And I've always used the Oxford comma. I guess I'm old school like that.

[Rain Man]

Two spaces after a sentence are a good thing. They help the writer recognize that a thought was finished, and a new one is about to begin. It's not about printing and kerning and stuff. It's a psychological tool to help people recognize that an ending just took place. We need two spaces for our mental well being.

[Fire Me Boy!]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Two spaces after a sentence are a good thing. They help the writer recognize that a thought was finished, and a new one is about to begin. It's not about printing and kerning and stuff. It's a psychological tool to help people recognize that an ending just took place. We need two spaces for our mental well being.

I thought you were better. I am disappoint.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Fried Meat Ball!

I thought you were better. I am disappoint.

It's hard for me to understand what you're saying since your sentences are so close together. It's like you're rambling incessantly.

[lcarus]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Two spaces after a sentence are a good thing. They help the writer recognize that a thought was finished, and a new one is about to begin. It's not about printing and kerning and stuff. It's a psychological tool to help people recognize that an ending just took place. We need two spaces for our mental well being.

I am a FIRM supporter of the 2 space method, as you can tell from almost all of my posts on this site. However, I always considered the period as the tool to recognize that an ending took place and a new thought or sentence was beginning...

[Fire Me Boy!]

Originally Posted by lcarus

I am a FIRM supporter of the 2 space method, as you can tell from almost all of my posts on this site. However, I always considered the period as the tool to recognize that an ending took place and a new thought or sentence was beginning...

I knew there was a reason I subconsciously hated you.

[underEJ]

Originally Posted by Aries Walker

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.

I don't care much about the spaces for general use. However, I am a writer. Courier is the only choice, so my habit is to use the expected two. I appreciate the auto corrects when I double space and it is not necessary, but I don't really care about ugly unless it is on a letter or something official.

Agree on the comma auto-correct.

[BucEyedPea]

Originally Posted by Reaper16

Being under 30 years old, I laughed out loud when I first learned that people were once taught to do two spaces. There's never been a need for it in my lifetime. Also, two spaces looks awful.

Well this provides hope. When everyone over thirty dies, the right way will be the accepted way. Narrow is the path and few are the feet that walk upon it currently.

[BucEyedPea]

Originally Posted by underEJ

I don't care much about the spaces for general use. However, I am a writer. Courier is the only choice, so my habit is to use the expected two. I appreciate the auto corrects when I double space and it is not necessary, but I don't really care about ugly unless it is on a letter or something official.

Agree on the comma auto-correct.

Courier is a poorly designed font for reading. There are better choices.