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SeaStar
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Posted: March 20 2013 at 11:58am | IP Logged Quote SeaStar
Which is right?

Celia, Tom and I went to the store.

or

Celia, Tom, and I went to the store.

I learned that if the conjunction and separates two nouns in a series, the comma is not needed. But maybe that is not the case now? Ds's grammar book says that the comma should be there before the word and.

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guitarnan
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Posted: March 20 2013 at 12:10pm | IP Logged Quote guitarnan
Either is correct. The comma after "Tom" is called an Oxford comma.

I was taught to use the Oxford comma and had to unteach myself for my current writing job, as my employer uses AP style, which does not include the Oxford comma.

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Mackfam
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Posted: March 20 2013 at 12:23pm | IP Logged Quote Mackfam
guitarnan wrote:
Either is correct. The comma after "Tom" is called an Oxford comma.

I was taught to use the Oxford comma and had to unteach myself for my current writing job, as my employer uses AP style, which does not include the Oxford comma.

Ditto this exactly!

I learned (and still prefer) the use of the Oxford comma, but any published writing I do prefers AP style in professional editing.

So... ...I teach my older, writing children the AP style when walking writing through the editing process.

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Posted: March 20 2013 at 12:54pm | IP Logged Quote stefoodie
This post makes my head hurt.       I'm always, always torn when writing now. Growing up we were taught AP style in school.

And then I met homeschoolers who LOVE the Oxford comma!!!       When I remember, I do Oxford. Yep, due to the influence of fellow homeschoolers on me.    But I'm sure all over my blog you'll find the AP style.

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Posted: March 20 2013 at 12:58pm | IP Logged Quote JodieLyn
I didn't know there were names to the styles.. I do remember being taught in school to use the comma and then later being told it was unnecessary. I usually drop the comma but I always think about it.. as in.. ok that's the last one before the "and" so it's not needed..

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3ringcircus
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Posted: March 20 2013 at 1:57pm | IP Logged Quote 3ringcircus
I was taught that either is fine. I always use it. I didn't know the names either!

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Maryan
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Posted: March 20 2013 at 1:58pm | IP Logged Quote Maryan
Just curious, Melinda, what's his grammar book?

To me (without reference to AP or Oxford), just reading...

If you don't have the comma, the first option reads like Celia is an appositive? And then it reads as if you are telling her that you and Tom went to the store.

So in favor of clarity, I guess I'm in favor of the comma if you want it to read that three people went to the store.

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CrunchyMom
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Posted: March 20 2013 at 2:45pm | IP Logged Quote CrunchyMom
Maryan wrote:
Just curious, Melinda, what's his grammar book?

To me (without reference to AP or Oxford), just reading...

If you don't have the comma, the first option reads like Celia is an appositive? And then it reads as if you are telling her that you and Tom went to the store.

So in favor of clarity, I guess I'm in favor of the comma if you want it to read that three people went to the store.


Exactly, there are times that I think the Oxford comma is necessary for clarity, and this would be one of those cases, imo. Though, my preference would be to use it all the time.

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Posted: March 20 2013 at 3:20pm | IP Logged Quote stellamaris
NOOO!!!! Don't take away my Oxford comma!!! End of civilization....

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SeaStar
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Posted: March 20 2013 at 4:54pm | IP Logged Quote SeaStar
This is so interesting. I read about the OXford use of the comma, but I had no idea it was so common!

I was taught in school that the comma before the and was a grammar sin- like saying ain't or "me and him was going home", etc

I am from the Strunk and White school of grammar- I'll have to go back and see if the Oxford comma is mentioned (though I think I did that a few months ago and it was briefly mentioned).

Anyway- we are using CHC grammar, and they are definitely in favor of the Oxford comma.

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stacykay
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Posted: March 20 2013 at 7:04pm | IP Logged Quote stacykay
I never knew it had a special name!, but I was taught to use the "Oxford" comma in elementary school....way back in, gulp!, late '60's and early '70's! (We need a hippie emoticom to capture that era!) Btw, I still use it.


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MaryM
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Posted: March 20 2013 at 7:10pm | IP Logged Quote MaryM
stacykay wrote:
I never knew it had a special name!, but I was taught to use the "Oxford" comma in elementary school....


Same here.

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Posted: March 22 2013 at 7:29am | IP Logged Quote Angi
I grew up with Oxford comma (no clue it had a name), and in college had to relearn AP style.

What has me confused now, is why did they change it to 1 space at the end of a sentence rather than 2? That one seems to be beyond my skill set most of the time. Too big of change.
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Posted: March 22 2013 at 8:04am | IP Logged Quote stefoodie
Angi!!! I've been wondering the same thing. Is it to save space?   

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Posted: March 22 2013 at 8:11am | IP Logged Quote CrunchyMom
Angi wrote:
I grew up with Oxford comma (no clue it had a name), and in college had to relearn AP style.

What has me confused now, is why did they change it to 1 space at the end of a sentence rather than 2? That one seems to be beyond my skill set most of the time. Too big of change.


It is because on a manual typewriter, the spacing was such that it was necessary to hit the bar twice. A period doesn't take up as much space as a full sized letter, and the text would become cramped and crowded.

Modern word processors/computers/fonts automatically put the appropriate spacing necessary after a period, so only one space is needed.

My two year foray into the world of publishing knocked that habit out of me. But what was frustrating was that I was taught that even though I never learned on a typewriter! Even though I learned to type in Word, the teachers and materials had not caught up yet.

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