Timeline for Oxford Comma Conventions
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
6 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 5, 2019 at 15:20 | comment | added | David M | Like most of the answers to this question, it doesn't really answer the primary question: WHEN/WHY did people start to omit it? I think many people understand the logic of its use, and use it. Many others understand its logic, and don't use it. Everyone is correct. This is usually true in matters of style. It's no different than other rules such as Never wear white pants after labor day.. Why not? Well, because someone authoritative once said so. S&W was the manual I was taught in high school, so I tend to cleave to it. But, then again, as @EdwinAshcroft points out, it's dated. | |
| Oct 5, 2019 at 14:55 | review | Late answers | |||
| Oct 5, 2019 at 15:34 | |||||
| Oct 5, 2019 at 14:51 | comment | added | Edwin Ashworth | surely the rule '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.' (@Adam Katz's answer) (and note his superb examples) finds other 'rules' wanting. | |
| Oct 5, 2019 at 14:50 | comment | added | Edwin Ashworth | Hello, wgb22. As a new contributor, you won't be aware that certain reference works are rated more highly than others. I don't know how often S&W has been updated, but it used to be considered not too near the top of the pile. The 'rule' you give is a style recommendation; there are competing ones (see the other answers). Surely commas should be used to aid rather than impair understanding. And ... | |
| Oct 5, 2019 at 14:40 | review | First posts | |||
| Oct 5, 2019 at 14:54 | |||||
| Oct 5, 2019 at 14:39 | history | answered | wgb22 | CC BY-SA 4.0 |