Oxford commas (Please help)

[Autumnwolf17]

I have always used the Oxford comma (also called the serial comma) in my writing and am a big supporter of it now that I'm beginning to notice that not everyone uses it and that it is not always an official rule in English at all. But it drives me nuts when people don't use it (don't use that against me).

The following is a brief explanation of the Oxford comma and both sides of the argument. Ignore it if you already know.

Spoiler: show

For those who don't know, the Oxford comma is the use of a comma before the conjunction in a list of three or more separate nouns. For instance, in the phrase 'red, blue, and yellow', the Oxford comma is the one that comes directly after the word "blue". So if you were to remove the Oxford comma, the phrase would become 'red, blue and yellow'.

Now, my opinion is that the addition of the Oxford comma not only looks better (because leaving it out suggests a stronger visual connection between the last two objects in the list than is actually present), but also better matches human speech pattern and resolves the possible confusion of the last two objects appearing as a apposition to the first. (Ex. 'The group included two women, Jack and John.' where the absence of the Oxford comma can be seen to suggest that the two girls are Jack and John. The addition of the Oxford comma would make the phrase 'The groups included two women, Jack, and John.', which makes it clear that the 'two women' and 'Jack and John' are separate entities.) It also clarifies groups in phrases where a conjunction is already used in the list. (Ex. 'My usual breakfast is coffee, bacon and eggs and toast.' In this sentence, the lack of the Oxford comma makes it impossible to tell whether one of the foods is 'bacon and eggs' or if bacon is separate and 'eggs and toast' go together. An Oxford comma would solve this.)

In interest of having a fair debate, I also realized it would be fair to provide the counterargument to the use of the Oxford comma (I needed the help of Wikipedia, admittedly). The three main points against it seem to be that it adds unnecessary bulk when space is at a premium, is redundant in a simple list (because conjunctions can typically be understood to be separation enough), and that it actually can introduce ambiguity in some cases. (Ex. 'They went with a Tom, a farmer, and Bill.' In this case, it could be that there are only two people in the case that 'a farmer' is not introducing a new person but instead clarifying that Tom is a farmer. The removal of the Oxford comma would resolve this by making clear that three people were being mentioned)

Please take a moment to vote on the poll as to whether you use the Oxford comma or not.

PS. If you need additional information, I am happy to provide it.

PPS. In case you are wondering why I made this thread, it's because I am personally curious about how many people actually use the Oxford comma.

[Guest77]

It depends on the language you'd like to use it in. For example, I always use it in English. However, in German, it is never used (by anyone). Were a non-native speaker to write a paper in the language (such as myself when I was a noob at German) and use the Oxford comma, you'd get told that Germans don't use it repeatedly until it's drilled into your head.

[Autumnwolf17]

It depends on the language you'd like to use it in. For example, I always use it in English. However, in German, it is never used (by anyone). Were a non-native speaker to write a paper in the language (such as myself when I was a noob at German) and use the Oxford comma, you'd get told that Germans don't use it repeatedly until it's drilled into your head.

Same with Spanish, which I am currently learning. In that case, it is a rule, so I have to force myself to erase it every time. But in this case, I am only talking about English.

[Autumnwolf17]

Note: If you have any opinion at all or have a tendency to use one over the other, please choose one of the first two choices instead of the indifferent, as that will help me more.

Sharing your opinion and the reasons for it will also help.

[highlander]

I really don't care if its used correctly , there's more spelling mistakes in this game to care where an apostrophe goes or not.I don't care about spelling mistakes either considering i'm not a grammar nazi.

[guineazilla]

I don't care if you use it or not but I voted always because I always use it. Grammar needs to make up its darn mind.

[royalblue]

I know Wolf, I feel your pain. There is just so much pain and suffering in this world. Just a few terrible things are enough to leave you questioning the future. Poverty... War... Oxford commas... Some days I want to give up, cry myself to sleep, and just forget everything because I know there are little children in Africa who go their whole lives without Oxford commas.

You've inspired me Wolf. I will take a stand against the tyranny, those evil monsters that dare to list words the wrong way. We are the architects of a new world, a new society that will never live in fear of missing a comma.

[>(FM)<]

My English teacher said a comma before the "and" Is not necessary.
And why do most of you guys use the single quotation marks when writing,
My teacher told me there only used when quoting inside a quote...?

[Autumnwolf17]

My English teacher said a comma before the "and" Is not necessary.
And why do most of you guys use the single quotation marks when writing,
My teacher told me there only used when quoting inside a quote...?

I was going to give you credit for your signature, but then I realized the only reason you picked Fermium is for the FM to match your name.

Your English teacher is poisoning your mind with her lies.

[neoexdeath]

I usually use it.