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I tell @kbspangler.com this all the time, and yet… Is a comma splice really such a sin? I mean, what am I supposed to do, use a semicolon? Nobody wants that. Nobody wants to see a semicolon.
flames, flames, side of my face, etc.
This is me and the Oxford comma.
*smashes bottle* the Oxford comma is ESSENTIAL for CLARIFYING OBJECTS
*pulls out knife* I’LL KILL FOR THE OXFORD COMMA
*runs off into the forest; the howling rises*
COMMA, COMMA, COMMA, COMMA, COMMA, AND COMMA!
COMMA COMMA COMMA COMMA COMMA CHAMELEON
YOU CLARIFY LISTS
YOU CLARIFY LIIIIISTS
YOU SEPARATE A PROPER NOUN WHEN USED IN THE VOCATIVE CASE
THE VOCATIVE CASE
THE VOCATIVE CAAAAAAASE
How does that work so well?
My compliments to the Shep.
(Oh no I'm sorry)
My comma preferences include lists, pauses, and the Oxford remix.
This right here is why I can’t quit social media. Dammit.
Do do do
Down dooby doo down down
COMMA, COMMA, down dooby doo down down
COMMA, COMMA, down dooby doo down down
Breaking up lists is easy to do.
I have no clue, but am still intrigued, and fully support commas.
I WILL DIE ON THE HILL THAT IS THE OXFORD COMMA
JENKINS, LEEEROOOOYYYYY!!!
But what about the Oxford Semicolon?
WE LIVE FOR, FIGHT FOR, AND DIE FOR OXFORD COMMA!!
hard agree,
with the exceptions if
- one is writing for the AP Wire _or_
- one is being edited by actual professional copy editors (do they even still exist?) who can detect and insert only commas required for clarifying.
Authors know what we meant,
our prose is always unabiguous,
and we are going to detect ambiguity ONLY if intentionally created for humorous intent;
we won't see UNintentionally humorous or disastrous ambiguity.
(Please savor the semicolon splice.)
(The AP is welcome to pay me to adopt their book of style, _provided_ they provide copy-editing services as well.)
I had my thesis edited by a professional copy editor and she removed all the Oxford commas, which I then spent an hour reinserting
Sigh. A professional editor should be adaptable to the publisher's style guide.
