Sunday, June 17, 2012

On the anniversary of the death of the Oxford comma…

Back on 29 June 2011, the University of Oxford Writing and Style Guide decided that writers should, “as a general rule”, avoid using the Oxford comma. Have you missed the good, old-fashioned serial comma at all?
Here’s an explanation from the style guide: “As a general rule, do not use the serial/Oxford comma: so write ‘a, b and c’ not ‘a, b, and c’. But when a comma would assist in the meaning of the sentence or helps to resolve ambiguity, it can be used – especially where one of the items in the list is already joined by ‘and’ [for example]: They had a choice between croissants, bacon and eggs, and muesli.”
Vampire Weekend has even made a (NSFW) “Oxford Comma” video as you ponder the rule change. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_i1xk07o4g)
But although I have Googled far and wide, I find editors, journalists and writers don’t miss it at all. In fact most newspapers and popular fiction killed it off long ago.
But just in case anyone cares…



Helen Woodall
Helen is available to line edit and/ or content edit fiction and non-fiction. Rates on application.

2 comments:

anny cook said...

Actually, I DO miss it. And would rather have it for crystal clarity. :-( But then, I'm rather fond of commas...

Helen Woodall: Freelance Editing said...

Yeah, I had noticed your comma addiction. Maybe you could put some commas on its grave instead of flowers?
Helen