What Is The Oxford Comma?
The Oxford comma. I saw this on someone’s profile. I think they were a fan. They were an editor so obviously knew their stuff. Didn’t think much more about it.
I’m not an editor. My writing has evolved organically without the over-rigid structure of formal education. I failed, basically. Did I get that comma right? Who cares?
Editors care, sometimes. Put it in. Take it out. What’s a writer supposed to do?
Rather than learn about it or pay attention — I use ChatGPT. “Proof this” I say and it often mishears and improves it. A win-win. As long as no one notices.
I’m not an editor. My writing has evolved organically without the over-rigid structure of formal education. I failed, basically. Did I get that comma right? Who cares?
Editors care, sometimes. Put it in. Take it out. What’s a writer supposed to do?
Rather than learn about it or pay attention — I use ChatGPT. “Proof this” I say and it often mishears and improves it. A win-win. As long as no one notices.
One thing that puzzled me was when ChatGPT corrected my commas. I would type a, b or c and it would correct it to a, b, or c. See the extra comma? It hacks me off. Not how I was taught, when I was taught. Probably nursery school, being the last time I paid proper attention.
They called me a problem child and gave me lines and detention. Now we know it’s ADHD. I’m still waiting for an apology. Still doing some of the lines, too. I must not this, I must not that.
I digress,
How’s that feel? I deliberately ended digress with a comma, just to show how edgy I am,
Wow! I did it again.
That’s part extreme edginess and part satire in the hope my next editor will cut me some slacks in the trouser department.
They called me a problem child and gave me lines and detention. Now we know it’s ADHD. I’m still waiting for an apology. Still doing some of the lines, too. I must not this, I must not that.
I digress,
How’s that feel? I deliberately ended digress with a comma, just to show how edgy I am,
Wow! I did it again.
That’s part extreme edginess and part satire in the hope my next editor will cut me some slacks in the trouser department.
Some fancy writer wrote a book about Pandas and punctuation. It was a best-seller. Maybe celebrity bios were thin on the ground that year.
To sum up. I have a big problem with the Oxford comma. I don’t like it. I felt ignorant for not knowing what it was. And perhaps most of all, I am familiar with Oxford. The Dreaming Spires. Town and Gown. The Thames. The Oxford Comma. Nope. No such thing.
When I was drinking and drugging my way through the sewers of society, no one ever mentioned the Oxford comma. There’s no statue to it as far as I know. No plaque outside a college. No celebration on May Day.
My mates and I didn’t spend evenings earnestly discussing it. Booze, spliffs and motorbikes — not an Oxford comma in sight.
To sum up. I have a big problem with the Oxford comma. I don’t like it. I felt ignorant for not knowing what it was. And perhaps most of all, I am familiar with Oxford. The Dreaming Spires. Town and Gown. The Thames. The Oxford Comma. Nope. No such thing.
When I was drinking and drugging my way through the sewers of society, no one ever mentioned the Oxford comma. There’s no statue to it as far as I know. No plaque outside a college. No celebration on May Day.
My mates and I didn’t spend evenings earnestly discussing it. Booze, spliffs and motorbikes — not an Oxford comma in sight.
I suspect it’s for older people to be concerned about. They have more pauses in conversation. Time to catch breath, remember what they were droning on about, blow their nose, pause, and restart from the beginning. Plenty of commas.
That’s why younger people stop more. Punch it up. Hit you. Sharp like.
And they don’t call it an Oxford full stop.
Hopefully you are now more knowledgeable about this important matter. Any issue with it — take it up with my editor.
That’s why younger people stop more. Punch it up. Hit you. Sharp like.
And they don’t call it an Oxford full stop.
Hopefully you are now more knowledgeable about this important matter. Any issue with it — take it up with my editor.