Ah, the dreaded comma ! The bane of existence to my editors.Because I endeavor to write, as one would speak, I am guilty of abusing commas, semi-colons, dashes, parentheses, and much more. This has lead to many knock-down, drag-out arguments, with those well meaning souls who endeavor to correct, and enhance what I have scribbled.
“The problem with defending the purity of the English language is that English is about as pure as a cribhouse whore. We don’t just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary.” ~ James Nichol
In grammar school, I learned about the conjunctions would’ve, could’ve and should’ve. I learned that they were formed from the words would have, could have and should have. I regularly see people now using would of, could of and should of instead and have read that this might be accepted into standard English from common useage. And then people wonder why English is so complicated…
I like the Oxford comma very much, having been taught to use it back in the 80s, and I loathe greengrocer’s apostrophes (I didn’t know there was a name for them until now; thanks!).
BE THIS GUY over 8 years ago
No Oxford comma for me. If the NY Times doesn’t need it, neither do I.
Meh~tdology, fka Pepelaputr over 8 years ago
How do they react to semi-colons?
Sherlock Watson over 8 years ago
“No bum that can’t speak poifect English oughta stay in this country… oughta be de-exported the hell outta here!” (Archie Bunker)
ursamaj over 8 years ago
As a Canadian I can assure that the Oxford comma is just wrong.
peter over 8 years ago
Please mind that we’re discussing the English language here, not the American or Canadian language.
“We invited the strippers, JFK and Stalin.”
“We invited the strippers, JFK, and Stalin.”
Say both sentences aloud. Would they sound different? Yes. Do they have a different meaning? Yes.
Oxford comma justification: accomplished.
steverinoCT over 8 years ago
There was a Dilbert strip where Wally advised the PHB to substitute semi-colons for full colons in all company docs, to save money.
Linguist over 8 years ago
Ah, the dreaded comma ! The bane of existence to my editors.Because I endeavor to write, as one would speak, I am guilty of abusing commas, semi-colons, dashes, parentheses, and much more. This has lead to many knock-down, drag-out arguments, with those well meaning souls who endeavor to correct, and enhance what I have scribbled.
IQTech61 over 8 years ago
“The problem with defending the purity of the English language is that English is about as pure as a cribhouse whore. We don’t just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary.” ~ James Nichol
In grammar school, I learned about the conjunctions would’ve, could’ve and should’ve. I learned that they were formed from the words would have, could have and should have. I regularly see people now using would of, could of and should of instead and have read that this might be accepted into standard English from common useage. And then people wonder why English is so complicated…
Linguist over 8 years ago
I HATE GRAMMAR !!
Fibbermcgee Premium Member over 8 years ago
Don’t forget the on going brouhaha over one or two spaces after a period.
R.U. Kidding over 8 years ago
DEATH TO THE OXFORD COMMA!
dawnsfire over 8 years ago
I like the Oxford comma very much, having been taught to use it back in the 80s, and I loathe greengrocer’s apostrophes (I didn’t know there was a name for them until now; thanks!).
Coyoty Premium Member over 8 years ago
Grammar nazis get colon cancer.Wait… Should “nazis” be capitalized?