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

[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.

[scribblemoose]

I was brought up and school educated in Surrey 40+ years ago and was taught very definitely NOT to. The controversy is deeply entrenched, I think.

Joking aside, the best answer to me seems to be the current guidance - use it when it helps clarify, otherwise don't.

[sheff_dogs]

Oh I agree and that is more or less what I was taught, to try to construct the sentence so you don't need it, but to use it for clarity if you would otherwise end up with a clunky sentence (though I am sure none of my english teachers would have used the word clunky!)