For example, a list of three countries might be punctuated either as france, italy and spain without the serial comma or france, italy, and. Oxford commanistas around the world are having a heyday over a recent push alert sent by sky news, which they believe is the endall, beall argument in favor of their precious punctuation mark. Three amusing examples of why the oxford comma is important. There is a new meme out there well, perhaps its not new, but it is all over facebook. The term oxford comma refers to the oxford university press, whose house style is to use the serial comma.
There are so many good meme examples of why the comma is important, i think ill leave it at use the comma anywhere you dont want to completely change the meaning of your sentence, like eating grandma or turning hitler and stalin. Adolf hitler s greatnephews are proud americans in long island. Style experts disagree on whether or not the oxford comma also called the serial comma is. Sometimes, theres no getting around the fact that the correct point cant be conveyed without a comma. The serial comma, more commonly referred to as the oxford comma, has been recognized as the standard for descriptive sentence structure in english writing. Style experts disagree on whether or not the oxford comma also called the serial comma. The oxford comma also called the serial comma and the harvard comma is a regular source of confusion and angst. Despite this acceptance, some critics claim it still holds a potential of introducing unnecessary ambiguity in certain contexts. Strippers, jfk, and stalin illustrate why you should use the. Oxford comma grammar joke blue watercolour typography.
The best shots fired in the oxford comma wars mental floss. The last comma can serve to resolve ambiguity, it says. I love reading books, but man, if i ever had to write one, i think my editor would have a fit. Without the oxford comma, it reads as though this author has some pretty impressive parents. Im notorious for being a proponent of the oxford comma. Random fact 2, new high st, headington, oxford is home to the shark house. An oxford comma is the final comma used before an and at the end of a list and is used to avoid ambiguity. The oxford comma the blue book of grammar and punctuation. For example, a list of three countries might be punctuated either as france, italy and spain without the. The proper definition of the oxford comma is a comma used after the penultimate item in a list of three or more items, before and or or. Zarez bez koga smo nosorozi oxford comma, grammar humor. Lightweight, classic fit, doubleneedle sleeve and bottom hem.
The atlantic, best books of 2012 youve never seen nazi germany like this. Jul 01, 2011 the oxford university guidelines are only for staff writing press releases and internal communications, a spokesperson has said, and oxford university press has asserted that the oxford comma. Team oxford comma funny grammar shirt, teacher gift, librarian gift, book. Paste books helps you find what to read next, whether you love literary fiction. You can and should use an oxford comma with any list of at least three nouns, verbs, or phrases.
Lover mug funny english teacher professor gift grammar police, grammar nazi. An oxford, or serial, comma is the last comma in a list. The oxford comma, socalled because the oxford university press style guidelines require it, is the comma before the conjunction at the end of a. But thats nothing compared to learning that two of americas. The phrase shoes, bags, and hats is written with an oxford comma, but shoes, bags and hats is not. Your primary school teacher might have told you that it was optional, and. Three amusing examples of why the oxford comma is important amongst those interviewed were merle haggards two exwives, kris krisofferson and robert duvall. Ive blogged before about the usefulness of the oxford comma in avoiding inadvertent confusion. Associated press style guide ap style the serial commaoxford commas. I just learned not to long ago that the oxford comma, or when you apply a comma to the last word of a list. Funny pictures about the great importance of the oxford comma. Drivers, and oxford comma, come up big in lawsuit settlement.
Here are 40 other literary jokes thatll make you want to get off the internet and go read a book. When not keeping it oxford goes wrong the writing center. Ap stylethe style guide that newspaper reporters adhere to. There are situations where use of the oxford comma will make or break a sentence choose a style and be consistent. The rhinoceri, washington, and lincoln illustrate why you. The oxford comma is extremely important and everyone should. The oxford comma makes it read as though the mother is ayn rand. This case backs up that habit as more than just an oldschool tic i. The oxford commaalso called the serial comma and the harvard commais a regular source of confusion and angst. This usage was founded by the oxford university press who uses it as standard. Heres an overview of how the serial comma works and why its important for. Whether you use the comma is a matter of style, meaning that some style guides call for it and some dont. I would like to thank my brothers, jesus, god, and batman. Ap style thats the associated press stylebook, which many.
I would like to share the below presentation with you for this weeks grammar tip. These critics fail to realize that sometimes a little ambiguity is far better. The problem is in his autobiographyworld philosophy book, mein kampf, he maintains. Your oxford comma just made hitler a stripper, when we invited the. Apr 02, 20 in the current edition of the blue book of grammar and punctuation and on the website, we have stated a preference for use of the serial, or oxford, comma. Some people consider the oxford comma stylistic which means its not really required.
Sep 24, 2018 james thurber, a writer for the new yorker and author of the secret life of walter mitty, made a case against the oxford comma to his editor harold ross, in a discussion of the phrase the red. For the record, the editors bible in australia, the australian government style guide, recommends against using the oxford comma except when it is necessary to ensure clarity p. There are a few anecdotes, and a zillion psychobable conjectures. Jun 20, 2016 i care because words matter, punctuation matters, and there is no other logical position besides being pro oxford comma. The oxford comma, also known as the serial comma, is the final comma you write when listing three or more items in a row. Oxford comma helps drivers win dispute about overtime pay. Its simply false that the oxford comma always adds clarity. Oxford comma the quick answer an oxford comma is a comma used before the last list item in a list of three or more items.
The oxford comma is the comma before the and in a list. Feb 09, 2018 drivers, and oxford comma, come up big in lawsuit settlement a maine dairy company has settled a lawsuit over an overtime dispute that was the subject of a ruling hinging on the use of the oxford. The chicago manual of style uses it, as does oxford university press style. Use of the oxford comma is stylistic, meaning that some style guides demand its use while others dont. Strippers, jfk, and stalin illustrate why you should use. It gets its name from oxford university press, a publishing house that champions its use to the point that it even includes an oxford comma in job titles to give a madeup example. Its name is always pretentious, and its purpose is always the same. Dec 30, 2014 as an experimental psychologist, steven pinker thinks about writing. Apr 10, 2017 your oxford comma just made hitler a stripper, when we invited the stripper, hitler and stalin is actually more clear. We are discussing the usage of the oxford comma, where a comma is placed before the and when listing words. See more ideas about grammar humor, humor and grammar and punctuation.
Underestimate the oxford comma at your peril the globe. The term oxford comma comes from the oxford university press, where the use of the comma is standard. Decorate your laptops, water bottles, notebooks and windows. I do prefer the oxford comma, however, i seem to find myself not automatically using it as often as i used to.
As a linguist, he thinks about writing in the sense of style. There are wonderfully funny drawings on each page to emphasize exactly what each sentence means so readers can grasp exactly what is wrong. The comma used before a conjunction such as and or or in a list of three or more items is known as the oxford comma. But the comma is common in book and academic publishing. A grammar nazi gets the blissful satisfaction of always being right. The oxford comma is a comma that falls before the word and in a list of three items or more. The thinking persons guide to writing in the 21st century. The oxford or serial comma is the final comma in a list of things. So if you didnt know, the oxford comma is basically the most important punctuation mark of all time. Where did the oxford comma come from, and why is it so. Just as there is confusion about its use, there is also confusion about the origin of the oxford comma. While many of the sites i write for as a freelance blogger follow ap style including this one, which is sansserial comma, i still sneak one in when it seems needed to avoid potential confusion. In english language punctuation, a serial comma, or series comma also called an oxford comma or harvard comma, is a comma placed immediately before the coordinating conjunction usually and or or in a series of three or more terms.
But sometimes a picture is worth many words, as this cartoon by. I care because i like jokes about my parents, god, and stalin. Sep, 2017 in this episode, an investigation of the oxford comma that starts, improbably, with a love story. Jun 21, 2016 if you arent aware, the oxford comma also known as the serial comma is the final comma before and in a series. The oxford comma is necessary in this sentence as its written. Never imagined someone could make a joke with one of the most ruthless leaders the world ever had, but indeed these jokes are funny.
Steven pinker on grammar feuds and the oxford comma the. If the oxford comma is a prepster in chinos and a green lacoste polo, im a hipster in a dirty flannel shirt and skinny jeans. The oxford comma vs harvard comma vs serial comma the last comma in that sentence above is an oxford comma, also known as the serial comma or the harvard comma. Why oxford comma enthusiasts are all over tinder gq. Funny grammar book lovers shirt for writers, english teachers and oxford comma fans everywhere.
The family meal was soup, fish and chips, and ice cream. There is a ferocious grammatical debate over whether a comma should go before the final conjunction in a series of three or more elements. Its used in sentences to reduce ambiguity and to make them easier to understand. Oxford cleared of serial comma killing books the guardian. In actuality very little is known, or at least not well publicized about hitler the person. The associated press, considered the authority for most american newsrooms, also generally comes out against the oxford comma. Yet people are often taught that they should always use it or never use it. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. Oxford city guide fun facts about oxford oxford city guide.
On a personal note, id like to dedicate this blog post to my parents, ayn rand and god. Aldus manutius also known as aldo manuzio was a 15thcentury italian printer who introduced the comma as we know it, as a way to separate things. Artwork original source grammar humor memes oxford comma. When there are three or more list items, then those following us convention should use a comma often called an oxford comma with the conjunction usually and or or. It is the difference between bring hot glue, an icepick and a hairnet and bring hot glue, an icepick, and a hairnet. Drivers, and oxford comma, come up big in lawsuit settlement a maine dairy company has settled a lawsuit over an overtime dispute that was the subject of a ruling hinging on the use of the oxford. Coordinating conjunctions already serve a purpose, making oxford commas redundant by default. Sep 19, 2011 ive blogged before about the usefulness of the oxford comma in avoiding inadvertent confusion. The publicrelations department at oxford doesnt insist on it, however. The zero tolerance approach to punctuation also by lynne truss. And there is glorious comments thread here for those who relish grammar pedantry that only teh internets can unleash. A sentence that, in the absence of an oxford comma, makes the speaker seem like heshe is talking to inanimate objects.
If the oxford comma is, in fact, oxford, im the year you took off college to go chill with some maasai in. I had eggs, toast and orange juice as opposed to i had eggs, toast, and orange juice. This book is dedicated to my parents, ayn rand and god. Having been an editor for nearly 15 years, i have no will of my own and am so enslaved by that book that i automatically agree. In maine, the muchdisputed oxford comma has helped a group of dairy drivers in a dispute with a company about overtime pay. This image, courtesy of the gloss, illustrates why.
The oxford comma is used before the words and or or in a. Your reckless abuse of the oxford comma is furthering the. Mar 19, 2017 the idea that the oxford comma is as advisable as storm windows has been a standard meme among literate americans since, especially, the publication of william strunk and e. The lost city of the monkey god by douglas preston. The debate rages on regarding inclusion of the oxford, or serial, comma. Indispensable oxford comma so, president obama is marrying raul castro. The oxford comma refers to that serial comma used before coordinating conjunctions in a list of things. Why everyone on tinder is an oxford comma enthusiast. Feb 09, 2018 but the resolution means there will be no ruling from the lands highest courts on whether the oxford comma the oftenskipped second comma in a series like a, b, and c is an. What did the boston marathon bombers do that hitler couldnt. Stefan karl is best known for his role as the villain robbie rotten in the tv series lazy town. With no oxford comma, it implies that the performers share their names with the 35th u. Most people in favor of the oxford comma see it as an effective way to clarify sentences that use lists with more than two subjects in it.
Inspired designs on tshirts, posters, stickers, home decor, and more by independent artists and designers from around the world. He writes in his new book, no sentence has ever been harmed by a series comma. Hitler calls a meeting of his best soldiers and commanders and tells them. Mar 16, 2017 in maine, the muchdisputed oxford comma has helped a group of dairy drivers in a dispute with a company about overtime pay. As a diehard oxford comma loyalist, this ruling made my day. The jumper is available in green, yellow, and black and white. Original team oxford comma shirt design featuring classic team oxford comma english literature artwork. Rule 1to avoid confusion, use commas to separate words and word groups with a series of three or more. I believe that the oxford comma helps create a clearer meaning in text, and that it should be the standard for everyone to learn.
Rather, its a fascinating, heartbreaking look at power dynamics, propaganda, and the human hunger for catharsis. Book lovers, english majors, and wellread individuals alike are notorious for loving literary jokes, references, and puns. Dead funny isnt just a book of wildly offlimits humor. Your oxford comma just made hitler a stripper, when we invited the stripper, hitler and stalin is actually more clear. When you run into a situation in which your choice suggests a misinterpretation of the sentence, rewrite it in another manner to avoid the confusion. Mar 19, 2017 the associated press, considered the authority for most american newsrooms, also generally comes out against the oxford comma. Now, the oxford comma is to blame for the same problem. Hemingway against the oxford comma what would bale do. And while i dont have particularly strong feelings about the oxford comma, the argument being made is that you must use it i disagree with this, which is why i have decided to start my own rebuttal meme. Lover shirt, book lover gift, bookworm, bibliophile, librarian, grammar nazi. What is the oxford comma and why is it so important.
Lovely post on the serial comma or the oxford comma. Our rule 1 of commas recommends, to avoid confusion, use commas to separate words and word groups with a series of three or more. The oxford comma is extremely important and everyone. Grammar stickers featuring millions of original designs created by independent artists. Its the comma one uses before the last item in a list, such as.