The Oxford Comma

[amc80]

I never knew there was a name for the comma before "and" in a list of three. I always put it there and it looks wrong with it missing.

http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/elitist-superfluous-or-popular-we-polled-americans-on-the-oxford-comma/

We asked respondents which sentence was, in their opinion, more grammatically correct: “It’s important for a person to be honest, kind and loyal.” Or: “It’s important for a person to be honest, kind, and loyal.” The latter has an Oxford comma, the former none.

The result was pretty much down the middle, with pro-Oxford partisans commanding 57 percent of the vote and opponents to the tyranny of the extra comma grabbing 43 percent. Although those numbers might be enough to defeat Eric Cantor, it’s hardly a clear victory for the Oxfordians.

 

[kenny]

I knew there were 2 ways of doing it, but I didn't use the Oxford comma till about 3 years ago when I learned it had a name.
Now I like to use it, though I have no rational reason for doing so.

I'm American.
I didn't vote because my natural writing of 50+ years did not use it, but now I do.

 

[Sparklelu]

I learned the Oxford comma and diagramming sentences in Elementary school. I only use one now.

 

[amc80]

Haha those are awesome!

 

[baby monster]

I was initially taught to put the comma before "and" but then in high school the instruction changed. So now I don't use it but always want to.

 

[msop04]

I learned the Oxford comma and diagramming sentences in Elementary school. I only use one now.

Those are great, Sparklelu!! I was taught to use the Oxford comma in school, and I guess it just makes sense to me.

 

[msop04]

I was initially taught to put the comma before "and" but then in high school the instruction changed. So now I don't use it but always want to.

Get empowered, bm -- use that Oxford comma!!

 

[justginger]

Always. I've even converted a few non-Oxford users (it is not taught in Australian schools).

 

[AGBF]

I never knew there was a name for the comma before "and" in a list of three. I always put it there and it looks wrong with it missing.

http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/elitist-superfluous-or-popular-we-polled-americans-on-the-oxford-comma/

We asked respondents which sentence was, in their opinion, more grammatically correct: “It’s important for a person to be honest, kind and loyal.” Or: “It’s important for a person to be honest, kind, and loyal.” The latter has an Oxford comma, the former none.

The result was pretty much down the middle, with pro-Oxford partisans commanding 57 percent of the vote and opponents to the tyranny of the extra comma grabbing 43 percent. Although those numbers might be enough to defeat Eric Cantor, it’s hardly a clear victory for the Oxfordians.

It appears to be new to you as a term; I know that the Oxford comma as a punctuation mark is not. Nothing seems to be new to Pricescope, however. Here is a previous thread about about the Oxford comma (started by kenny, by the way).

The Other Oxford Comma Thread...[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/the-oxford-comma.165797/page-2']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/the-oxford-comma.165797/page-2[/URL]

Deb/AGBF
Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend

 

[junebug17]

I was taught in grammar school many years ago (yes, that's what we called it, not elementary school lol) to use the Oxford comma - a sentence without it looks very wrong to my eye! I never knew there was a name for it, or that it was permissible to leave it out ha.

 

[msop04]

Always. I've even converted a few non-Oxford users (it is not taught in Australian schools).

OMG, I'm dying!!!

 

[dk168]

I do not usually put a coma before "and", however, if anyone criticises my English, be it spelling, grammar etc. in writing and in conservations, then I would smile sweetly and say, sorry, however, English is NOT my first language, and I am learning all the time.

DK

 

[LoversKites]

Always. I've even converted a few non-Oxford users (it is not taught in Australian schools).

Lol. I will definitely be seeing this image in my mind next time someone doesn't use an Oxford Comma (possibly me).

 

[amc80]

I never knew there was a name for the comma before "and" in a list of three. I always put it there and it looks wrong with it missing.

http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/elitist-superfluous-or-popular-we-polled-americans-on-the-oxford-comma/

We asked respondents which sentence was, in their opinion, more grammatically correct: “It’s important for a person to be honest, kind and loyal.” Or: “It’s important for a person to be honest, kind, and loyal.” The latter has an Oxford comma, the former none.

The result was pretty much down the middle, with pro-Oxford partisans commanding 57 percent of the vote and opponents to the tyranny of the extra comma grabbing 43 percent. Although those numbers might be enough to defeat Eric Cantor, it’s hardly a clear victory for the Oxfordians.

It appears to be new to you as a term; I know that the Oxford comma as a punctuation mark is not. Nothing seems to be new to Pricescope, however. Here is a previous thread about about the Oxford comma (started by kenny, by the way).

The Other Oxford Comma Thread...[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/the-oxford-comma.165797/page-2']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/the-oxford-comma.165797/page-2[/URL]

Deb/AGBF
Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend

Wow, two threads on a comma...we are an exciting bunch! And you are right, the Oxford Comma itself is not new to me; I've been using it since 3rd grade or so.

 

[zoebartlett]

I use it because I like the symmetry of it...or something.

 

[momhappy]

Funny that you posted this - I have used the Oxford comma all my life, up until very recently. I saw a sentence without it (from a reputable source) and it led me to believe that I had been doing it incorrectly all these years. It never even occurred to me that there are two ways of doing it. Now that I know, I'm going back to using it because my sentences just don't look right without it.

 

[alexah]

For those into Weird Al or grammar, I just watched this video and thought it was cute... it mentioned the Oxford Comma so BUMP

http://www.fuse.tv/videos/2014/07/weird-al-blurred-lines-word-crimes

 

[alexah]

Oh, and to answer the original question, I don't put the comma in before "and". I had a grade school teacher tell me it was incorrect so I stopped at that point.

 

[stracci2000]

I always use it. This is the way I was taught in grade school. I never knew it had a name until just now. Nice to know!

 

[amc80]

For those into Weird Al or grammar, I just watched this video and thought it was cute... it mentioned the Oxford Comma so BUMP

http://www.fuse.tv/videos/2014/07/weird-al-blurred-lines-word-crimes

Ha, I missed this...and just started another thread with it!