joannqn Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 I so agree! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penny_P Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 Snort. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 I prefer Oxford commas but don't think the poster makes sense. Who thinks that's what people mean when they omit the last comma? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haiku Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 Tee-hee! I'm an Oxford comma die-hard. Tara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWOB Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 Long live the Oxford comma! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dangermom Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 I prefer Oxford commas but don't think the poster makes sense. Who thinks that's what people mean when they omit the last comma? Nobody, but it's still funny. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denise in Florida Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 here is another one (not pg) I hope the attachment thing works. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen in PA Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haiku Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 I prefer Oxford commas but don't think the poster makes sense. Who thinks that's what people mean when they omit the last comma? Grammatically it's ambiguous even if the meaning is clear to us. There are definitely instances where ambiguous grammar makes meaning less than crystal clear. It happens to me that I am innocently reading along and stumble across ambiguous grammar and have to stop to figure out what is meant. Tara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuirkyKidAcademy Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 Okay, that second poster is funny! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 I prefer Oxford commas but don't think the poster makes sense. Who thinks that's what people mean when they omit the last comma? but that's what it is saying, and it is visually driving home the point. who thinks when they say: "we're having the Jones' for dinner" thinks they're eating them? but that is what it is saying. (the correct version would be people "to" dinner. we eat things "for" dinner.) ds had that point driven home when they did the "how to make a peanut butter sandwich" experiement in middle school. they had to give precise instructions - just as scientists are supposed to. Love "Eats, shoots and leaves". (a book about commas. and apostrophes.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jplain Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 I love that second one. :D Long live the Oxford comma! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoggirl Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 here is another one (not pg) [ATTACH]6895[/ATTACH] I hope the attachment thing works. :001_smile: Oh, my! Now tell me how I can use the attachment thingie or post a link or SOMETHING so I can forward this to my friend in an e-mail. I gotta have it! Sorry I am a techno-idiot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denise in Florida Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 Oh, my! Now tell me how I can use the attachment thingie or post a link or SOMETHING so I can forward this to my friend in an e-mail. I gotta have it! Sorry I am a techno-idiot. Here is a link http://weknowawesome.com/2011/09/30/the-oxford-comma-strippers-jfk-and-stalin/ I am also a techno-idiot and was pleasantly stunned when the attachment worked. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haiku Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 Right-click on the image and save it to your desktop. Tara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommyof4ks Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 :lol: Both of those are funny. I heart commas. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigs Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 Tee-hee! I'm an Oxford comma die-hard. Tara :iagree: Long live the Oxford comma! :iagree: Grammatically it's ambiguous even if the meaning is clear to us. There are definitely instances where ambiguous grammar makes meaning less than crystal clear. It happens to me that I am innocently reading along and stumble across ambiguous grammar and have to stop to figure out what is meant. Tara :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 This example wouldn't confuse me, but I was taught to either use a comma at my discretion or to rephrase if the meaning would not be clear otherwise. It's never been an issue, either in school (in Canada) or in reading materials published without the Oxford comma. I find it amusing that Americans get so worked up about it; it's simply not the case that much of the rest of the English-speaking world exists in a state of confusion without it, putting orange juice on toast or what have you. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest submarines Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 I know this isn't a popular opinion here, but the Oxford comma doesn't make any sense, and posters that attempt to illustrate it alleged value fail to do so. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susann Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 here is another one (not pg) [ATTACH]6895[/ATTACH] I hope the attachment thing works. :001_smile: Love the example! Always used it but didn't realize that it was called the Oxford comma. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 (edited) but that's what it is saying, and it is visually driving home the point. I disagree. It isn't saying that at all, and if anything, the poster makes me reconsider my usual defense of the serial comma. In most cases, they are unnecessary, and if there is any confusion or ambiguity, you can still add a comma. (For the sake of kittens everywhere, I hope no one is going to have the Jones' either for or to dinner.) Edited November 15, 2011 by WordGirl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doodle Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 here is another one (not pg) [ATTACH]6895[/ATTACH] I hope the attachment thing works. :001_smile: It is my understanding that the second sentence would require a colon (instead of a comma) for it to represent the given picture. Is this correct? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 Love the example! Always used it but didn't realize that it was called the Oxford comma. ... jfk, stalin and the strippers... This wording is preferable because it's the way we'd say it. When the text from the example is read aloud, confusion could result even if an Oxford comma is present in the text. A speaker wouldn't mumble "Oxford comma" to remove the ambiguity. Perhaps we could agree give poor and lazy writers leave to use the comma. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joannqn Posted November 15, 2011 Author Share Posted November 15, 2011 Without the Oxford comma, I feel the last two items in the list were meant to be together as one thing. Did you have toast and OJ, separately, or did you have toast soaked in OJ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 (edited) For me, the two sentences in the first example mean the same. I don't see the Oxford comma every day, and I don't use it except in ambiguous situations. This doesn't feel ambiguous. Laura Edited November 15, 2011 by Laura Corin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 here is another one (not pg) [ATTACH]6895[/ATTACH] I hope the attachment thing works. :001_smile: If I wanted the strippers to be JFK and Stalin, I'd write: '... the strippers: JFK and Stalin' Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoggirl Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 Here is a link http://weknowawesome.com/2011/09/30/the-oxford-comma-strippers-jfk-and-stalin/ I am also a techno-idiot and was pleasantly stunned when the attachment worked. :lol: thanks for this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoggirl Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 Right-click on the image and save it to your desktop. Tara cool! Thank you. I am such a techno-idiot. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Impish Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 Long live the Oxford comma! :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebunny Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 I so agree! When I read the title of the post, I thought it referred to the song "Oxford Comma" by Vampire Weekend.:blush: (My defense is that it has a catchy tune!:tongue_smilie:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justamouse Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 If I wanted the strippers to be JFK and Stalin, I'd write: '... the strippers: JFK and Stalin' Laura But then that would mean that you listed the strippers, who were JFK and Stalin? If you replace the colon with namely, you can normally tell if it's the correct usage. Your punctuation would say that JFK and Stalin were strippers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest submarines Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 But then that would mean that you listed the strippers, who were JFK and Stalin? If you replace the colon with namely, you can normally tell if it's the correct usage. Your punctuation would say that JFK and Stalin were strippers. That's what she is trying to say (right?). If I want to say that JFK and Stalin indeed were strippers, I'd say: We invited the strippers: JFK and Stalin. On the other hand, if I want to say that I invited the strippers in addition to JFK and Stalin, I'd simply list them, without the Oxford comma, because the last 'and' in the series replaces the comma. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truscifi Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veritaserum Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 here is another one (not pg) [ATTACH]6895[/ATTACH] I hope the attachment thing works. :001_smile: :smilielol5: Tears of laughter. "We invited the strippers, JFK and Stalin." :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 (edited) I'm torn. I sometimes put in an Oxford comma, then take it out. Then I put it in. Then I take it out again. ;) It's too much at times. Edited November 16, 2011 by LibraryLover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justamouse Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 That's what she is trying to say (right?). If I want to say that JFK and Stalin indeed were strippers, I'd say: We invited the strippers: JFK and Stalin. On the other hand, if I want to say that I invited the strippers in addition to JFK and Stalin, I'd simply list them, without the Oxford comma, because the last 'and' in the series replaces the comma. :D DUH me. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justamouse Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 (edited) I'm torn. I sometimes put in an Oxford comma then take it out. Then I put it in. Then I take it out again. ;) It's too much at times. OK, Oscar' Edited November 16, 2011 by justamouse WRONG link. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 :D OK. You know I love you. But. That was a link about neo nazis and people who have never heard of Adolf Hitler. I had to stop watching, as it made me ill. If there is something about commas in the link, I missed it. My churning stomach forced a shutdown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest submarines Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 DUH me. :lol: You see how much easier life is without the Oxford comma? :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest submarines Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 OK. You know I love you. But. That was a link about neo nazis and people who have never heard of Adolf Hitler. I had to stop watching, as it made me ill. If there is something about commas in the link, I missed it. My churning stomach forced a shutdown. Really? It took me to an Oscar Wilde quote (about taking out commas). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 Really? It took me to an Oscar Wilde quote (about taking out commas). I clicked again...I get neo nazis and idiots. Crazy! If JaM saw that, she'd cry with me. Just so you know, I am a Wilde fan. By the way, I am thinking JFK & Stalin experienced more than their fair share of strippers. Way more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veritaserum Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 OK. You know I love you. But. That was a link about neo nazis and people who have never heard of Adolf Hitler. I had to stop watching, as it made me ill. If there is something about commas in the link, I missed it. My churning stomach forced a shutdown. That's what I got, too. :001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 (edited) That's what I got, too. :001_huh: Each time I click the link, this comes up. (It looks like CA, USA, so i am not proud.) Edited November 16, 2011 by LibraryLover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 I disagree. It isn't saying that at all, and if anything, the poster makes me reconsider my usual defense of the serial comma. In most cases, they are unnecessary, and if there is any confusion or ambiguity, you can still add a comma. I agree, serial comma only when the meaning is ambiguous. (For the sake of kittens everywhere, I hope no one is going to have the Jones' either for or to dinner.) For the love of the kittens, it is Joneses we would have to (in most cases) or for (in the case of zombies or cannibals) dinner! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest submarines Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 (edited) Each time I click the link, this comes up. (It looks like CA, USA, so i am not proud.) This time the youtube video came up for me too. :confused: ETA: And I clicked for the 4th time, and I got the quotations site again. http://quotationsbook.com/quote/42880/ :confused::confused::confused: Edited November 16, 2011 by sunflowers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KidsHappen Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 Really? It took me to an Oscar Wilde quote (about taking out commas). I got the Oscar quote as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KidsHappen Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 I really dislike the Oxford comma. IMO it is redundant. The last and in a series replaces the Oxford comma. So with the comma you are in effect saying and, and. If I find mysef in a situation where the meaning would not be clear I reword as adding the Oxford comma rarely clarifies the situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest submarines Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 I really dislike the Oxford comma. IMO it is redundant. The last and in a series replaces the Oxford comma. So with the comma you are in effect saying and, and. If I find mysef in a situation where the meaning would not be clear I reword as adding the Oxford comma rarely clarifies the situation. :iagree:Yes, yes and yes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 I hope the attachment thing works. :001_smile: Well, when I looked at it, nothing was slipping, yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 But then that would mean that you listed the strippers, who were JFK and Stalin? If you replace the colon with namely, you can normally tell if it's the correct usage. Your punctuation would say that JFK and Stalin were strippers. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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