And I am reminded once again. . .

[yendi]

that the thing I most disagree with John Scalzi about isn't the Oxford comma, but the directorial talents of Paul W.S. Anderson.

(That said, I tend to be a lot more convincing about the comma than the director.)

Comments

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

There is one and only one correct way to delimit the items of a comma-delimited list. Which side are you (and by extension, Scalzi) on again?

[yendi]

I'm on the one that believes in using the Oxford comma, no ifs, ands, or buts.

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

Oh good!

Now I need something to do with all the tar, feathers, and pitchforks.

[silme.livejournal.com]

What's funny is that the serial comma is called the Harvard comma over this way. We blame the Americans. ;)

[yendi]

Hunh. So the whole Oxford/Cambridge comma doesn't have anything to do with those schools. Interesting.

[silme.livejournal.com]

I taught usage of serial commas in the US for years. Here in Britain, such commas really only are used to clear up ambiguity. They are not standard here.

Oxford University Press does endorse using serial commas when the meaning can be confused. However, the University of Oxford's own public relations department does not use serial commas.

Using serial commas all the time, regardless of meaning issues, is more an American habit than a British one, I've discovered from having taught English in England.

On the other hand, I've also noted that children aren't taught much grammar here unless/until they take A-level English Language. I introduce students to grammar big-time in that class. That emphasis on grammar is one reason it was easy for me to adapt to teaching this class, as I was inundated with grammar classes from a very young age in the US. Over here, I find 16 year olds who barely know the difference between nouns and verbs. My work is cut out for me. :(

PS I believe that Cambridge University Press doesn't endorse the serial comma. Oh well.