Grammar

[otterdance]

A friend with whom I often have grammar discussions sent this to me, confirming my fervent belief in the terminal, or Oxford, comma.

Comments

[drenilop]

ROTFL!!!!

Thanks - I needed this today. :-) This is even better than eats shoots and leaves. :)

[aduial_peredhel]

Ha! I knew I was using that comma correctly all along! People kept telling me I didn't need it.

[rabid_bookwyrm]

It isn't mandatory, but many people prefer it. And, as demonstrated above, it can significantly increase clarity.

[aduial_peredhel]

True. But I was taught in high school to use it, and I always have when 3 or more "subjects" are used to eliminate confusion. Recently I have been told it is not necessary but I continued to use it. Now I can use this comic to explain why. :)

[_profiterole_]

So it can actually be useful. Interesting! (Though I would just write: we invited jfk, stalin and the strippers, but that's not the point.)

[masteroftrouble]

Stalin and the strippers sounds like a rock band.

Just sayin. ;)

[_profiterole_]

JFK was their groupie.

[masteroftrouble]

I knew it!

[ayashi]

Lol I love this thing.

[scribblemoose]

As a Brit I feel obliged to say hissssssss. I was taught not to use that comma from a very early age!

But it's still a funny cartoon. :)

[otterdance]

But it's the Oxford comma! How can you hiss that??

[scribblemoose]

Well, it's Oxford. I'm in Yorkshire. :p

Rumour has it it's also going out of style at Oxford:

http://www.ox.ac.uk/branding_toolkit/writing_and_style_guide/punctuation.html

Although not without hot debate:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/jul/01/oxford-cleared-serial-comma-killing

Contrary, the lot of us. :D

[sheff_dogs]

As a Brit brought up and school educated in Oxford I was most definitely taught to use the Oxford comma, mind that was a good froty years ago.