Stopping Basic
Comma Issues in Your Writing
The Oxford Comma…in this course, you WILL be required to use the Oxford Comma (Serial Comma). The reason being is that by using it, you will always avoid issues of ambiguity.
- The opposition to the Oxford Comma typically argue against it due to it looking cluttered on the page or that it is the reader’s job to read and then re-read the series (by rearranging it) to be able to determine the writer’s actual intention in the series.
- However, please remember, that it is never the reader’ job to interpret your writing. Your writing should be so clear and concise, properly punctuated and full of adequate word choice that the reader leaves the writing knowing exactly what your intention was for him to learn.
- The point of writing is communication. You are initiating this communication by crafting your writing. If you write and punctuate in ways that may be confusing to a reader, then you are not communicating very well. Be the best writer (and communicator) that you can be by using the Oxford comma to alleviate any possible confusion in your writing.
- Indicating that it is the reader’s job to interpret the meaning of the items in the series, or stating that the Oxford comma looks cluttered on the page is simply sloppy and lazy writing.
- When I review your papers, I will be expecting the use of the Oxford comma in all communication where 3 or more items are listed in a series.
- To learn more about the debate on the Oxford Comma, review these two videos:
Comma Splice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNCHbJruutY
The Comma Story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHnl1O3NGJk
Grammarville Lesson 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcSXsOxKY7A
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