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Thread: This is a public service announcement

  1. #16
    Shlup's Retired Pimp Recognized Member Raistlin's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Formalhaut View Post
    But, why is it given the name 'Oxford'? It's just a comma isn't it? Why give it a fancy name?
    I actually have no idea why it has that name and don't really care enough to look it up. You're right that it's "just a comma," but it's just a commonly-understood label for a comma used in a specific situation: namely, before the last part of a serial list of three or more components.

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    humanity is devoured by snacks's Avatar
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    I really don't know the difference, but my aspirations to become a writer I guess I should probably learn these things no?
    now safe beneath their wisdom, and their feet;
    here i will teach you truly how, to sleep.




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    Proudly Loathsome ;) DMKA's Avatar
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    I was taught in elementary school that such a use of a comma is improper.

    Then again I was also taught "fishes" as a plural for "fish" and using "'s" after a subject ending in an s to demonstrate posession were improper too, but I see those both used regularly now.

    Perhaps the American public education system just needs work.
    I like Kung-Fu.

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    CimminyCricket's Avatar
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    I only use it if I'm listing things that aren't related to each other. If I'm listing Fred, Daphne and Shaggy I don't think that I'm going to use the comma. If I'm listing the rhinoceri, Washington and Lincoln and I don't want them all to be a rhinoceros I'll use the comma.


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    Pinkasaurus Rex Pumpkin's Avatar
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    We were taught in grade school that a comma before and was incorrect, because that is what the and is for. Then in Grade 11, it was suddenly expected that we use it, even though they told us not to.

  6. #21
    Shlup's Retired Pimp Recognized Member Raistlin's Avatar
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    This just goes to show that elementary school teachers are not exactly the go-to experts on grammar rules.

    Mine was actually pretty good, though. We learned Oxford commas and that the past tense of "hang" in the sense of execute is "hanged" and other stuff that many people similarly get wrong.

  7. #22

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    So wesley What you saying is you was teached good

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    Shlup's Retired Pimp Recognized Member Raistlin's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Denmark View Post
    So wesley What you saying is you was teached learned good
    Fixed.

  9. #24
    Ogre Araciel's Avatar
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    If you know how to structure a sentence, you don't have to worry about it being a problem in.

    (no I don't)

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    ...you hot, salty nut! Recognized Member fire_of_avalon's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Raistlin View Post
    If you couldn't tell from the OP, I always use and Oxford comma. And, like Shlup, I always notice when other people don't use it and it bugs me. Even regions that don't use the Oxford comma, like the UK, require its use where the lack of the comma can cause ambiguity (such as in the OP's examples), so I don't understand why it's not just always used. Silly Brits.

    And I was an editor on a law journal for two years, which like all good American publications required the Oxford comma, so I became used to correcting people's omission of it.
    If you couldn't tell from the OP, I always use and Oxford comma.
    If you couldn't tell from the OP, I always use and Oxford comma.
    I always use and Oxford comma.

    Signature by rubah. I think.

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    Shlup's Retired Pimp Recognized Member Raistlin's Avatar
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    I will follow you around correcting your typos! *fixes*

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    EoFF's Laundry Goddess ~*~Celes~*~'s Avatar
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    I roflcoptor'd

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    Should've gone to Oxford.


  14. #29
    Eggstreme Wheelie Recognized Member Jiro's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Formalhaut View Post
    I try and use it whenever possible.

    But, why is it given the name 'Oxford'? It's just a comma isn't it? Why give it a fancy name?
    It is used for a specific reason. It's the same reason we give signs designations instead of just "sign," only far less obvious.

  15. #30
    Recognized Member Chemical's Avatar
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    Yes, and I like to secretly look down on those peons that do not.
    This despite the fact that my grammar is not most excellent.

    Boldly go.

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