Oxford Comma

[HeroOfCrapsalot]

Oxford Comma

Does anybody use it? Me and my brother have been having this argument for days. He's for and I'm against.

He states, "If you don't use it it, it's as if you're combining the last two subjects and it's 'icky'."

I say, "Without that little unnecessary ink mark, you still convey the same meaning and your sentence looks cleaner."

Opinions?

 

[HeroOfCrapsalot]

Re: Oxford Comma

Sometimes I use it. Sometimes I don't use it. I think it's a lame thing to debate, especially for a number of days. In school, it doesn't matter if you think it's right or wrong, if the textbooks say that it's right or wrong, or if it is a conventional standard to have it or not - what matters is what your instructor wants. Outside of school, I really can't see anyone giving a damn and if they do, I can't see any reason why.

I use it at my discretion as sometimes it can look appropriate, but other times it is just an unnecessary pause in a sentence. I read the sentence out in my mind and determine which way is best, then I go from there.

Hmm. Reading that, I'm starting to believe it's a psychological thing. My lazy, indifferent personality omits it where as my straight A's, anal retentive brother uses it. My curiosity is sparked. Time for a social experiment. To the mall!!!

 

[Necromancer]

Re: Oxford Comma

If you don't use the oxford comma, you're a communist.

But seriously, I'm a grammar nazi, so this sh*t matters to me. When you're saying the sentence out loud, there's a pause between the second to last thing you're listing and the 'and.'

And your brother's right. Without that pause, it's as if you're listing the last to items together.

 

[HeroOfCrapsalot]

Re: Oxford Comma

The "saying it out loud" idea has led me to a conclusion. In my South Western drawl, I speak quickly and would leave out the pause, aformentioned by my good man Necro, whilst speaking in an informal tone. If I were speaking formally to a higher up official or peer, I would speak slowly with the pause. I guess this can be taken to writing form as well, but still I probably can't bring myself to add that small and somewhat insignificant mark.

 

[Skotekal]

Re: Oxford Comma

Just from the way I speak I always but the comma there.

"I went home, made some coffee, watched the news and then fell asleep."
"I went home, made some coffee, watched the news, and fell asleep."

I would never say the first one, but that is just because I speak the way I would write. Say, my brother or parents would say the first one.

But yeah, I don't see why it matters, really. As long as I find someone's message coherent, I'm happy.

 

[HobbeBrain]

Re: Oxford Comma

I usually use it. If you were saying it, It'd have a comma, so I write it like that. Although, there are obviously some exeptions like JohnDoe has already said.

By the way, John, what happened to all your rep?? :O

 

[Arseface]

Re: Oxford Comma

Looks messy and I generally don't use it. Anyone who thinks differently deserves death.

/exaggerated-sarcasm-to-point-out-the-lameness-of-such-an-argument

 

[droded]

Re: Oxford Comma

I use it depending on what my list consists of.

Most of the time I feel it's unnecessary however.

 

[Skotekal]

Re: Oxford Comma

The main reason I started using it was because my teacher from grade 4 would take off marks if I didn't use it. Then my speech evolved around how I wrote, and I speak how I write, and I write how I speak.

 

[TRA Rotid]

Re: Oxford Comma

Thank god Estonian doesn't have such a thing.

 

[Arseface]

Re: Oxford Comma

Actually, I just thought of a use for it. Say an item on your list has an and in it, the Oxford comma can stop you getting confused.