Which is right? Comma Poll.

[Guest lahmeh]

My dh and I were taught this way: hook, line and sinker.

 

GWG is teaching my dc this way: hook, line, and sinker.

 

Which is right? Please vote. TIA :confused:

[Lily_Grace]

That would be the Oxford comma (or serial comma). Both ways are correct.

[Cosmos]

I support the Oxford comma. :)

[TracyP]

I was taught the same way as you and your dh were. I am teaching my kids the GWG way. That seems to be the more common way.

[skueppers]

Putting the comma before the "and" seems to be the most correct current usage, although both are acceptable.

 

I was taught not to put a comma in that position, but have long thought putting a comma before the "and" made more sense. I recently investigated and found that most style guides now recommend the comma.

[wy_kid_wrangler04]

My dh and I were taught this way: hook, line and sinker.

 

GWG is teaching my dc this way: hook, line, and sinker.

 

Which is right? Please vote. TIA :confused:

 

 

I am going through this same thing. Dh and I were both taught hook, line and sinker but our grammar also teaches hook, line, and sinker.

 

 

The second just looks wrong to me because of how I was taught. I am really struggling to teach my daughter the way her book teaches it. :glare: I voted for the way I learned because that HAS to be right :lol:

 

 

I asked a question similar to this but it was a year or two ago. I don't remember.

[HoneyFernDotOrg]

That would be the Oxford comma (or serial comma). Both ways are correct.

 

They are, but there was an article in January about Oxford dropping it.

[tuzor]

I am going through this same thing. Dh and I were both taught hook, line and sinker but our grammar also teaches hook, line, and sinker.

 

 

The second just looks wrong to me because of how I was taught. I am really struggling to teach my daughter the way her book teaches it. :glare: I voted for the way I learned because that HAS to be right :lol:

 

 

I asked a question similar to this but it was a year or two ago. I don't remember.

 

I agree. I just struggle placing the comma prior to and. Seems so wrong.

[MIch elle]

They are, but there was an article in January about Oxford dropping it.

 

Umff! :001_huh:

[tuzor]

They are, but there was an article in January about Oxford dropping it.

 

 

Thanks good to know. This post sounds like a conversation that would be perfect for NPR's show A Way With Words.

[crazyforlatin]

I love the Oxford comma and have taught it to DD, but I did notice in some books, like Redwall, that it has been dropped.

 

 

ETA: I can't believe I just wrote that I love the Oxford comma.

[MamaSheep]

I'm a big fan of the Oxford comma, even though several English teachers tried to drill it out of me. Here's why: http://pinterest.com/pin/160304359/

[Crimson Wife]

Using the Oxford comma reduces the chance for confusion (e.g. Eats, Shoots and Leaves).

[ChandlerMom]

I use the optional comma -- it's a STYLE thing more than a correct thing. When I write journal papers for work I always omit it else the copy editors will delete it for me. In journals you won't see it since it takes an extra space. Each journal has it's own style sheet...you must comply. :p

[usetoschool]

I'm a big fan of the Oxford comma, even though several English teachers tried to drill it out of me. Here's why: http://pinterest.com/pin/160304359/

:lol: I was just coming to post that.

 

 

Using the Oxford comma reduces the chance for confusion (e.g. Eats, Shoots and Leaves).

:iagree: and we really like that book.

[zenjenn]

I use the optional comma because of the way I speak. If I am speaking, more often than not I pause. I actually SAY "Red, white, and blue." I actually pause after white.

[MicheleinMN]

Using the Oxford comma reduces the chance for confusion (e.g. Eats, Shoots and Leaves).

 

:iagree::iagree::iagree:

[Puma Mom]

I was taught the second way, but understand the first to be correct as well.

 

I did not vote.

[angela in ohio]

I teach my dc that whichever way their teacher, professor, or boss does it is the correct way for that situation. :D

 

I prefer it (actually, my feelings are a bit stronger than that :D,) so they use it for my assignments.

[Grover]

They're both correct. The article about dropping the Oxford comma was a hoax.

[Daisy]

I'm not giving up the Oxford comma. I think it is better to have it and be clear then drop it and confuse everyone.

 

I divided my inheritance between Phil, John, Peter and Mary.

 

Did I divide my inheritance three ways or four?

 

The Oxford comma would have cleared it up.

[Vida Winter]

I don't use the comma before the and. I hate it when they change things. I also dislike that there are different names for the same grammar term.

[Tam101]

My dh and I were taught this way: hook, line and sinker.

 

GWG is teaching my dc this way: hook, line, and sinker.

 

Which is right? Please vote. TIA :confused:

 

I was taught that the comma before 'and' is optional. FLL teaches to put a comma there, so that is what I have my son do.

[MamaJo]

The second is the preferred way.

[nrself]

I use the optional comma because of the way I speak. If I am speaking, more often than not I pause. I actually SAY "Red, white, and blue." I actually pause after white.

 

 

I was taught that either is correct - JUST be consistent about it. However, I'd have to agree with Jenn. A comma signifies a pause. And I pause.

[Krista in LA]

I was taught that either way was acceptable, but I always preferred the additional comma. If you read it out loud, you naturally pause there, so it seems to make more sense to use it.

[regentrude]

The Oxford comma is a matter of much debate, and, ultimately, taste.

[mycalling]

I'm not giving up the Oxford comma. I think it is better to have it and be clear then drop it and confuse everyone.

 

I divided my inheritance between Phil, John, Peter and Mary.

 

Did I divide my inheritance three ways or four?

 

The Oxford comma would have cleared it up.

:iagree:This is why I always use it. So much clearer, imo.

[Hedgehogs4]

Both are correct.

[Mothersweets]

I'm not giving up the Oxford comma. I think it is better to have it and be clear then drop it and confuse everyone.

 

I divided my inheritance between Phil, John, Peter and Mary.

 

Did I divide my inheritance three ways or four?

 

The Oxford comma would have cleared it up.

 

:iagree:Great example! I'm a believer in the Oxford comma.

 

Also, I believe there was a thread about this a few months back in the General forum. I'll see if I can find it.

[Mothersweets]

I found it! Here is the thread about the Oxford comma - pretty interesting! :) The dropping of the Oxford comma was a hoax. Go to post #71 and there is a link explaining the hoax.

 

Oxford Comma thread

Edited September 12, 2011 by Mothersweets

[Rivka]

The classic example sentence for why one should use the Oxford comma:

 

"I'd like to thank my parents, God and Ayn Rand."

[nov05mama]

Using the Oxford comma reduces the chance for confusion (e.g. Eats, Shoots and Leaves).

 

:iagree::iagree:

[Mommy to monkeys]

the second one

 

hook, line, and sinker

 

the other looks so wrong. . .even if they're both ok;)

[Spy Car]

The Oxford comma is the only acceptable choice. The alternative is an assault on everything that is good and decent in the Universe :D

 

Bill

Edited September 13, 2011 by Spy Car

[Caitilin]

The Oxford comma is the only acceptable choice. The alternative is an assault on every thing that is good and decent in the Universe :D

 

Bill

 

Totally agree!:D

[Aquinas Academy]

They are, but there was an article in January about Oxford dropping it.

There was a lengthy discussion about that here on the forums. The article turned out to be a hoax.

ETA: Sorry, I didn't see Mothersweets post linking the same thread.

The Oxford comma is the only acceptable choice. The alternative is an assault on every thing that is good and decent in the Universe :D

 

Bill

:iagree::lol:

[ereks mom]

Both are correct.

 

:iagree: although I usually do put a comma before the "and".

[Guest lahmeh]

Thank you all so much for responding! :001_smile:

[GingerPoppy]

The classic example sentence for why one should use the Oxford comma:

 

"I'd like to thank my parents, God and Ayn Rand."

 

Love this; must remember this. Long live the Oxford comma!

[MIch elle]

I love the Oxford comma and have taught it to DD, but I did notice in some books, like Redwall, that it has been dropped.

 

 

ETA: I can't believe I just wrote that I love the Oxford comma.

 

I've noticed it's also dropped in the newspaper too (Boston Globe).

[Cosmos]

Using the Oxford comma reduces the chance for confusion (e.g. Eats, Shoots and Leaves).

 

While I am in the pro-Oxford-comma camp, I disagree that the Oxford comma reduces confusion in this case. As long as there is a comma after eats, it is perfectly clear that the panda eats and shoots (a gun) and leaves (the room).

 

In the book of that title, the confusion is between these two sentences:

 

The panda eats shoots and leaves.

The panda eats, shoots, and leaves.

 

I don't recall whether she used the Oxford comma or not. It's immaterial, because it's the first comma (or lack thereof) which causes confusion.

 

The classic example sentence for why one should use the Oxford comma:

 

"I'd like to thank my parents, God and Ayn Rand."

 

This is a case where the Oxford comma is necessary. Is the speaker thanking God and Ayn Rand or addressing them.

 

ETA: Good grief, I sound pedantic in this post. I think I need a restraining order from grammar threads.

Edited September 13, 2011 by Cosmos