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)

[Fire Me Boy!]

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

Seriously, it's not wrong. There's no right or wrong here. It's a preference born of necessity, from the typewriter era. What the typographers would have been more accurate in saying is that there is no longer a need, in their opinion, for the second space.

It's an outdated workaround born of necessity. Doesn't make it less wrong.

And in today's world, it's utterly useless (and ugly).

[cdcox]

Can we get an auto-correct that says "hello, spacetard on the loose"?

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by BucEyedPea

If you don't want to use it, that's fine with me. But it is the new rule and is taught as one. It's how typographers always set type. We are all setting type now--just digitally.



Nope. I caught it--a typo. I went back and edited it.

Temper much?

No temper, although your attempt to switch it around to me instead of your mistake is noted, but a typo is generally hitting "j" instead of "h", not getting a word choice completely wrong.

[eDave]

What does Oxford say about the hashtag symbol? I say burn it.

[Fire Me Boy!]

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

No temper, although your attempt to switch it around to me instead of your mistake is noted, but a typo is generally hitting "j" instead of "h", not getting a word choice completely wrong.

I've done the exact same thing before, and I'm an admitted grammar nazi. We all make mistakes, and sometimes you just type the wrong word.

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by Fried Meat Ball!

It's an outdated workaround born of necessity. Doesn't make it less wrong.

Well, yes, it does. Pretty much by definition.

[BucEyedPea]

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

No temper, although your attempt to switch it around to me instead of your mistake is noted, but a typo is generally hitting "j" instead of "h", not getting a word choice completely wrong.

I think you're the one getting petty and sound pissed-off.

[BucEyedPea]

Originally Posted by Fried Meat Ball!

I've done the exact same thing before, and I'm an admitted grammar nazi. We all make mistakes, and sometimes you just type the wrong word.

Yup! That's a common one. I actually did catch it and made the edit before he had to point it out.

[Fire Me Boy!]

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

Well, yes, it does. Pretty much by definition.

A workaround can absolutely be against the rules. Is English your second language?

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by Fried Meat Ball!

I've done the exact same thing before, and I'm an admitted grammar nazi. We all make mistakes, and sometimes you just type the wrong word.

Yes, but people pissing and moaning about a non-existent rule should be paying better attention to the real rules. BEP's failure to do so was funny. I noted it and laughed. That should have been the end of it, but she doubled down with the "typo" excuse.

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by Fried Meat Ball!

A workaround can absolutely be against the rules. Is English your second language?

There is no rule.

[Fire Me Boy!]

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

Yes, but people pissing and moaning about a non-existent rule should be paying better attention to the real rules. BEP's failure to do so was funny. I noted it and laughed. That should have been the end of it, but she doubled down with the "typo" excuse.

Dude... You are wrong. Get over it. Keep on using the two spaces, but know typographers for the past 100 years have agreed one space is correct.

[BucEyedPea]

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

Yes, but people pissing and moaning about a non-existent rule should be paying better attention to the real rules. BEP's failure to do so was funny. I noted it and laughed. That should have been the end of it, but she doubled down with the "typo" excuse.

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

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by Fried Meat Ball!

Dude... You are wrong. Get over it. Keep on using the two spaces, but know typographers for the past 100 years have agreed one space is correct.

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

Christ, you people are failing logic 101.

[Fire Me Boy!]

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.

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