How do you feel about the Oxford comma?

Jump to Last Post 1-12 of 12 discussions (22 posts)
  1. ar.colton profile image78
    ar.coltonposted 13 years ago

    In my opinion the oxford comma is repetitive, distracting and unnecessary.

    With a slight concession, I hate to admit it but sometimes you just need it.

    I am interested to hear your take on it. I would love it if you posted in a similar manner, with or without the oxford comma, depending on your preference.

    Hopefully there are other nerds who have a strong preference, don't leave me handing guys.

    1. ar.colton profile image78
      ar.coltonposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      lol, *hanging.

  2. camlo profile image80
    camloposted 13 years ago

    Sometimes you do need it in order to avoid ambiguities.

    1. ar.colton profile image78
      ar.coltonposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Well exactly, it can't be thrown out the window completely. Hence, my concession.

      Red and white, blue and yellow, and orange and green.

  3. paradigmsearch profile image61
    paradigmsearchposted 13 years ago

    This made it all clear to me. smile

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_comma

  4. profile image0
    ryankettposted 13 years ago

    I have no idea what an Oxford comma is, perhaps it's because us Brits just use it anyway? What is it?

  5. profile image0
    ryankettposted 13 years ago

    OK I have googled it.

    I was never required to use it at school, I started using it recently.

    For some reason it just suits the way that I read, I like the Oxford comma.

  6. habee profile image92
    habeeposted 13 years ago

    Last time I checked, MLA also required the final comma with items in a series. It's been several years since I checked, however, and MLA guidelines do change from time to time. I always use the comma.

    I just checked MLA. As of 2009, the comma was still required. The MLA is the bible for most English teachers in the U.S.! lol

    http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/607/02/

    1. ar.colton profile image78
      ar.coltonposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      In the states it's generally considered a requirement. In Canada and the UK it's usually considered incorrect. I'm not sure about the rest of the world. I think there's enough contention to make it a matter of personal preference, and occasionally, necessity.

      1. profile image0
        Brenda Durhamposted 13 years agoin reply to this

        Why change a good thing?
        That kind of comma is easily understood, follows a tradition of writing technique, and isn't distracting at all, in my opinion;  it's actually the misuse of it (like, when people mistakenly use it instead of a semi-colon), or the absence of it, that becomes distracting.

        1. ar.colton profile image78
          ar.coltonposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          I'm not suggesting anyone change anything. Like I said, in some parts of the world it's a necessity, in others it's considered an error. I was just wondering what people's opinions were.

          1. profile image0
            ryankettposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            In conclusion, it is just a pain in the arse to anybody who wants to publish a book in both the UK and US!

            1. ar.colton profile image78
              ar.coltonposted 13 years agoin reply to this

              Thank god for editors smile

  7. know one profile image61
    know oneposted 13 years ago

    I didn't realise it was controversial. I always use it before the last item in a list. I find it jarring when it's missing. I don't like to see a comma used as a placemarker for a quick breath - yes, I've seen it recommended for that purpose!

  8. Lisa HW profile image60
    Lisa HWposted 13 years ago

    I'll dabble in not using it, but there's something "mentally unsettling" to me about the open-ended-ness (or inconsistency - or something) of not using it.  AP Style says don't use it; so, all in all, it's always a mini-crisis for me to have to decide between the old fashioned teachers I had in primary school and AP style (if/when I'm even being that formal).

  9. Merlin Fraser profile image59
    Merlin Fraserposted 13 years ago

    It's not at all common when you are writing in English in England so I guess it's an American thing, like the misspelling of our words.

    Which is grammatically correct :
    Apples, bananas and pears.    Or
    Apples, bananas, and pears. 

    In English one is grammatically wrong the other one is commonly used in the USA not hard to guess which one.
    Although I agree with Ryankett it is a pain in the Ass when confronted with an American smart assed editor.... As if an Americanised Spellchecker was not bad enough.

    1. Lisa HW profile image60
      Lisa HWposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      In that particular example, I'd have to go with the comma at bananas - no matter who said it shouldn't be there.    For me, sometimes it depends on the individual sentence.

      In fairness to something like AP style, a lot of that is about streamlining the printed word and consistency between different pieces of writing.  There are other fields (like science or engineering) that have their own writing requirements for consistency, as well - so writing in a specific field often requires a different set of rules than "mainstream" English grammar rules.

      There's a point where I think readers of things like American newspapers have to keep in mind that there's a difference between a novel, a textbook, some other general-audience book, and material that requires intentionally changing some formal, grammar, rules for a reason.

      As for the spelling differences, I think it might be nice if everyone settled on spelling things the same way in the same language. 

      I'm not too thrilled with a lot of the things that have happened with grammar in the U.S.  One that irks the heck out of me is that now, apparently, it's OK to write/say something like this:  "Each person should sign the book when they arrive."   (mad  mad)  That drives me nuts!!  Apparently, we're not grown-up enough, and sure enough of ourselves, to be able to handle the use of "he", which goes with the singular, "each".

      As a woman, I've never found it that big of a deal to go with "he", in view of the fact that it happens to be a convenient way to do things and doesn't particularly mean writers don't know that women exist.  This new "singular they" thing is something I don't ever plan to do.   That particular thing shows up everywhere now, and it's just a brain-rattler!   roll

      1. classicalgeek profile image78
        classicalgeekposted 13 years agoin reply to this

        Actually, the singular "they" was used by both Chaucer and Shakespeare. I'd hardly call that new.

    2. maven101 profile image70
      maven101posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      The use of commas to distinguish uniqueness in description is much more satisfying than tying the last two subjects together, as if they were one and the same...It also gives the sentence a much smoother flow and rhythm...But then I'm American, and we like to keep things simple, like my use of these commas...

  10. Trish_M profile image78
    Trish_Mposted 13 years ago

    Generally, I don't think that we need the Oxford comma, but, occasionally, it may make one's meaning clearer, I think.

    Certainly in the example given:
    'Apples, bananas and pears' or 'Apples, bananas, and pears', it should be the former.

  11. profile image0
    Sophia Angeliqueposted 13 years ago

    Hate it.

  12. ar.colton profile image78
    ar.coltonposted 13 years ago

    I love that everyone has a different opinion about this. I personally don't think it's at all necessary that we all treat English the same way.

    As far as spelling goes Merlin, the "u" just looks better, certainly, but I'm Canadian, and when I was in school in the States no one ever gave me heck for using it.

    The world is better for our differences. It takes all kinds of clown to make a good circus.

 
working

This website uses cookies

As a user in the EEA, your approval is needed on a few things. To provide a better website experience, hubpages.com uses cookies (and other similar technologies) and may collect, process, and share personal data. Please choose which areas of our service you consent to our doing so.

For more information on managing or withdrawing consents and how we handle data, visit our Privacy Policy at: https://corp.maven.io/privacy-policy

Show Details
Necessary
HubPages Device IDThis is used to identify particular browsers or devices when the access the service, and is used for security reasons.
LoginThis is necessary to sign in to the HubPages Service.
Google RecaptchaThis is used to prevent bots and spam. (Privacy Policy)
AkismetThis is used to detect comment spam. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide data on traffic to our website, all personally identifyable data is anonymized. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Traffic PixelThis is used to collect data on traffic to articles and other pages on our site. Unless you are signed in to a HubPages account, all personally identifiable information is anonymized.
Amazon Web ServicesThis is a cloud services platform that we used to host our service. (Privacy Policy)
CloudflareThis is a cloud CDN service that we use to efficiently deliver files required for our service to operate such as javascript, cascading style sheets, images, and videos. (Privacy Policy)
Google Hosted LibrariesJavascript software libraries such as jQuery are loaded at endpoints on the googleapis.com or gstatic.com domains, for performance and efficiency reasons. (Privacy Policy)
Features
Google Custom SearchThis is feature allows you to search the site. (Privacy Policy)
Google MapsSome articles have Google Maps embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
Google ChartsThis is used to display charts and graphs on articles and the author center. (Privacy Policy)
Google AdSense Host APIThis service allows you to sign up for or associate a Google AdSense account with HubPages, so that you can earn money from ads on your articles. No data is shared unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Google YouTubeSome articles have YouTube videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
VimeoSome articles have Vimeo videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
PaypalThis is used for a registered author who enrolls in the HubPages Earnings program and requests to be paid via PayPal. No data is shared with Paypal unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook LoginYou can use this to streamline signing up for, or signing in to your Hubpages account. No data is shared with Facebook unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
MavenThis supports the Maven widget and search functionality. (Privacy Policy)
Marketing
Google AdSenseThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Google DoubleClickGoogle provides ad serving technology and runs an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Index ExchangeThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
SovrnThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook AdsThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Unified Ad MarketplaceThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
AppNexusThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
OpenxThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Rubicon ProjectThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
TripleLiftThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Say MediaWe partner with Say Media to deliver ad campaigns on our sites. (Privacy Policy)
Remarketing PixelsWe may use remarketing pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to advertise the HubPages Service to people that have visited our sites.
Conversion Tracking PixelsWe may use conversion tracking pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to identify when an advertisement has successfully resulted in the desired action, such as signing up for the HubPages Service or publishing an article on the HubPages Service.
Statistics
Author Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide traffic data and reports to the authors of articles on the HubPages Service. (Privacy Policy)
ComscoreComScore is a media measurement and analytics company providing marketing data and analytics to enterprises, media and advertising agencies, and publishers. Non-consent will result in ComScore only processing obfuscated personal data. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Tracking PixelSome articles display amazon products as part of the Amazon Affiliate program, this pixel provides traffic statistics for those products (Privacy Policy)
ClickscoThis is a data management platform studying reader behavior (Privacy Policy)