Actually, it is a play on the “Oxford comma.” The Oxford convention is to put a comma after every item in a series, i.e., there is a comma after “wallet,” even though it is followed by “and.”
AP style would eliminate that comma.
And yes, it is a joke on "everything’s bigger in Texas.*
(*Except the ranches- we have ranches in BC that are bigger than some countries in Europe!)
If you didn’t know what an Oxford comma is, this would not be much (if any) help, without an explanation and/or highlight. Though there is one comma that is an Oxford comma in the example, there are two commas that are not Oxford commas.
A Texas rancher is sitting next to a New Yorker on a plane. He brags about his place. You could get in a car and drive all day and still not reach the other side of my spread, Can you comprehend that? The New Yorker says, yeah, I once had a car like that too.
Earthling Premium Member almost 2 years ago
Wait, shouldn’t it be “right thar”? My Texan is a bit rusty.
benjnavarro28 almost 2 years ago
I’m Texan and don’t get it
allen@home almost 2 years ago
As a native Texan i don’t get this ?
pschearer Premium Member almost 2 years ago
Interesting that two Texans in the comments have needed the joke explained to them.
blunebottle almost 2 years ago
Actually, it is a play on the “Oxford comma.” The Oxford convention is to put a comma after every item in a series, i.e., there is a comma after “wallet,” even though it is followed by “and.”
AP style would eliminate that comma.
And yes, it is a joke on "everything’s bigger in Texas.*
(*Except the ranches- we have ranches in BC that are bigger than some countries in Europe!)
Jeff0811 almost 2 years ago
Google must be down in Texas…, definition follows: a comma used after the final item in a list of three or more items, before ‘and’ or ‘or’ .
In this case the oxford comma is the comma between “wallet”, and “and”.
Doug K almost 2 years ago
If you didn’t know what an Oxford comma is, this would not be much (if any) help, without an explanation and/or highlight. Though there is one comma that is an Oxford comma in the example, there are two commas that are not Oxford commas.
Lee26 Premium Member almost 2 years ago
No comma-nt.
Bill Löhr Premium Member almost 2 years ago
The Florida comma covers the whole text, just incase one of the words might offend someone.
lv2sew almost 2 years ago
I’d learned awhile back from this site about Oxford commas. Always an education here!
ladykat almost 2 years ago
I don’t think everything is necessarily bigger in Texas.
wongo almost 2 years ago
Lost me, Dude!
Milady Meg almost 2 years ago
The classic book dedication example: “I’d like to thank my parents, God and Ayn Rand”.
Frank Burns Eats Worms almost 2 years ago
If you drew a face and legs on the Texas comma, you might have a Comma Chameleon.
Lablubber almost 2 years ago
A Texas rancher is sitting next to a New Yorker on a plane. He brags about his place. You could get in a car and drive all day and still not reach the other side of my spread, Can you comprehend that? The New Yorker says, yeah, I once had a car like that too.
Norris66 almost 2 years ago
Girls can only use commas in Florida now.
comicalUser almost 2 years ago
So, the text is small in Texas?