Oxford Comma

[Tupac Shakur]

People who refuse to use the Oxford comma are undoubtedly illbred, boorish, and retarded.

[OzzyKP]

Even Oxford is dropping the Oxford comma:

http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/oxford-comma-dropped-by-university-of-oxford_b33357

Oxford Comma Dropped by a University of Oxford Style Guide
By Jason Boog on June 29, 2011 11:35 AM
A University of Oxford Writing and Style Guide has decided that writers should, “as a general rule,” avoid using the Oxford comma. Will you miss the good old fashioned serial comma?

Here’s an explanation from the style guide: “As a general rule, do not use the serial/Oxford comma: so write ‘a, b and c’ not ‘a, b, and c’. But when a comma would assist in the meaning of the sentence or helps to resolve ambiguity, it can be used – especially where one of the items in the list is already joined by ‘and’ [for example]: They had a choice between croissants, bacon and eggs, and muesli.”

Although we don’t know exactly when the rule was posted, Ranty Editor called our attention to the debate with an opinionated tweet this morning: “Oxford Style Guide ditches the Oxford comma. I have strong feelings about this, none of them good.” Be sure to watch Vampire Weekend’s “Oxford Comma” video as you ponder the rule change. (Via Don Linn)

Generally I think they are unnecessary, but I don't really care that much.

[onodera]

Explicitly forbidden in Russian.

[Asher]

Even Oxford is dropping the Oxford comma:

http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/oxford-comma-dropped-by-university-of-oxford_b33357

Generally I think they are unnecessary, but I don't really care that much.

The Oxford PR department dropped it.
The Oxford University Press (which is where it comes from...) certainly has not.

[Asher]

The Oxford Comma is the only unambiguous way to make a list.

Consider the classic example:

To my parents, Ayn Rand and God.

This could mean two very different things, sans Oxford Comma.

[Asher]

The list of supporters/detractors on wikipedia is interesting.

You'll find that the supporters tend to be people who value consistency and unambiguity (like the American Medical Association, US Government, American Psychological Association, etc). The ones who don't mandate it are ones who discuss unimportant **** (The Guardian, The Australian Government, NYTimes, etc).

[Dinner]

I usually write "X, Y, and Z" rather then X, Y and Z"

[Asher]

*pats Oerdin*

Then vote "Yes".

[Dinner]

I still think it's an invalid poll.

[Al B. Sure!]

To my parents, Ayn Rand and God.

Who said that? Ben's and Dave Floyd's Jesus, Capitalist Jesus™?

[MrFun]

;

[giblets]

The Oxford Comma is the only unambiguous way to make a list.

Consider the classic example:


This could mean two very different things, sans Oxford Comma.

Only a ****** like Albert would think it means Ayn Rand is your mother.

Also, you could just rearrange the order. "To Ayn Rand, my parents and God". What is so difficult about that?

edit: hey, I just found a counterexample on Wikipedia. "To my mother, Ayn Rand, and God". Sounds like a rather ambiguous way to make lists.

[Ben Kenobi]

Interesting bunch of people agreeing. Me, Asher, Slowwy, and Oerdin all on the same side.

[Perfection]

♥

[Al B. Sure!]

Crap. Anything that Ben AND Oerdin agree on must be the wrongest thing ever... like a Platonic form of wrong-ness