February 3, 2016

Comma Queen: The Strippers, J.F.K. and Stalin—or, the Importance of Serial Commas

Watch this on The Scene.

The serial comma, also known as the Oxford comma, is the one before “and” in a series of three or more: Herman Melville wrote “Moby-Dick,” “Billy Budd,” and “Bartleby, the Scrivener.”

It is also the improbable subject of a passionate debate among scholars, journalists, and copy editors. Can’t we all just get along? - The New Yorker

Posted by gerardvanderleun at February 3, 2016 5:43 PM
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"It is impossible to speak in such a way that you cannot be misunderstood." -- Karl Popper N.B.: Comments are moderated and may not appear immediately. Comments that exceed the obscenity or stupidity limits will be either edited or expunged.

I always use the Oxford comma myself.

Posted by: Bill Jones at February 3, 2016 7:33 PM

I'm fed up with cereal commas among Kix, Wheaties, and Cheerios, especially when they're written or eaten without their trademarks.

Posted by: Howard Nelson at February 3, 2016 9:35 PM

I, thoroughly, enjoyed, finding, out, how, to, use, that, key, on, while, typing,.

Posted by: Vermont Woodchuck at February 4, 2016 3:52 AM

I happen to have an infinite supply of commas, and therefore use them liberally. My heart goes out to the comma deprived, who have to fog up their writing by skimping on commas.

Posted by: BillH at February 4, 2016 6:25 AM

In an age where Johnny can't spell, Johnny can't read, Johnny can't write, Johnny can't use simple arithmetic and Johnny lives on government hand outs, I'm pretty certain that Johnny will not be concerned about the Oxford comma.

But that's just a guess.

Posted by: Jack at February 4, 2016 9:02 AM

When they get that one worked out they can get to work on the Harvard Apostrophe, and all it's many application's.

Posted by: Rob De Witt at February 4, 2016 9:05 AM

Back when my Uncle Letsgo the Bantam King Lozko was working to provide chickens for spy work he compiled a basic "Chicken Dictionary".

In his field notes, now de-classified, he mentioned a problem which weighed in against his efforts. The chickens could not vocalize a comma.
Uncle Letsgo came up with an effective solution: he trained the poultry to substitute double comma comma that would replace the elusive comma.
Henceforth the communications would use the Lozko Method.

This problem continues to this day comma comma with the various canines our military has chosen for DOE comma comma and Law Enforcement comma comma for finding bodies alive alive or dead.

Posted by: chasmatic at February 4, 2016 1:14 PM

Thank you. Finally, I understand one thing among the many miseries, mysteries, and mistakes of high school english class.

Posted by: foodog at February 4, 2016 11:37 PM

foodog: you are welcome.
I run a free advice service that lets you have the first one free.
The intermediate level services show you how to communicate with no vowels.
in the advanced level services you will learn to communicate without ever saying anything.

Posted by: chasmatic at February 6, 2016 3:52 AM
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