# Oxford Comma Poll **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 8, 2022, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxford-comma-poll/974594 "2022-11-08T15:47:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxford-comma-poll/974594/21 "2022-11-08T18:44:59Z")
I remember when it was my parents, Ayn Rand and God. Those were the days! ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxford-comma-poll/974594/22 "2022-11-08T18:48:29Z")
Don’t forget the strippers, JFK and Stalin! ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxford-comma-poll/974594/23 "2022-11-08T18:59:06Z")
Being taught AP style in journalism classes and the industry, I used to never use the Oxford comma (except when there would be ambiguity.) Now I almost always use the Oxford comma except when it introduces ambiguity. Overall, I’ve found that more often than not the Oxford comma is clearer, hence my shift to using it by default. ---
**Author:** ![Yodalicious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yodalicious/32/8195_2.png) [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxford-comma-poll/974594/24 "2022-11-08T20:13:42Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > But she crosses her 7s, so what does she know? Does she dot her lower case Js? ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxford-comma-poll/974594/25 "2022-11-08T20:20:32Z")
1. Further evidence that this is a classy bunch. Not only that the OC won, but that anyone would even raise the question. 2. This is one of those things that I always do so I don’t have to make a decision every time or wonder if it should do it. Locking my car is another one of those things. I always lock it, that way I don’t have to wonder whether this time I did or didn’t. It’s automatic and doesn’t require a decision. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxford-comma-poll/974594/26 "2022-11-08T20:21:24Z")
team oxford comma! ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxford-comma-poll/974594/27 "2022-11-08T20:34:44Z")
The reason “it’s superfluous” not to use an Oxford comma is a poor one. Language intentionally adds extra information to reduce the chance of misunderstanding. For example, starting a sentence with a capital letter is superfluous, because the period “.” has already marked the end of the previous sentence. Or, adding an “s” to third-person present-tense verbs “she jumps”, when we already know there’s only one jumper. The only legitimate reason to use (or not use) an Oxford comma is convention. You either follow a convention that uses it, or you don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxford-comma-poll/974594/28 "2022-11-08T20:39:40Z")
> [@Yodalicious](#): > > Does she dot her lower case Js? I certainly hope so. I never asked. But she also is against sentences ending a preposition with. And probably says to never split infinitives. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxford-comma-poll/974594/29 "2022-11-08T21:05:03Z")
Ah, but I’d like to thank my father, Jesus, and my mom. That’s the counterexample to an Oxford comma – is Jesus an item in a series or an appositive? At any rate, this comes up far less often than the cases where the Oxford comma clears up ambiguity, in my experience. (And don’t say “recast the sentence.” Suppose you are transcribing a quotation.) ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxford-comma-poll/974594/30 "2022-11-08T21:08:24Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I love my parents, Lady Gaga and Humpty Dumpty. needs comma In the interest of not using it (because it still looks wrong to me), I’d switch that to “I love Lady Gaga, Humpty Dumpty and my parents” or “I love my parents as well as Lady Gaga and Humpty Dumpty”. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxford-comma-poll/974594/31 "2022-11-08T21:14:51Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > she also is against sentences ending a preposition with. Now that is a propositionabout prepositions up with which I shall not put. It’s applicable to latin, not to english. Not old english, middle english, nor modern english. Or so I learned in “The History of English” podcast. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxford-comma-poll/974594/32 "2022-11-08T21:26:46Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > In the interest of not using it (because it still looks wrong to me), I’d switch that to “I love Lady Gaga, Humpty Dumpty and my parents” or “I love my parents as well as Lady Gaga and Humpty Dumpty”. You must be an editor IRL, or an English grammar teacher. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxford-comma-poll/974594/33 "2022-11-08T21:30:59Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > “I love my parents as well as Lady Gaga and Humpty Dumpty” You love your parents as well as you love Lady Gaga and Humpty Dumpty? ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxford-comma-poll/974594/34 "2022-11-08T21:32:20Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > > [@Joey\_P](#): > > > > “I love my parents as well as Lady Gaga and Humpty Dumpty” > > You love your parents as well as you love Lady Gaga and Humpty Dumpty? No, no, Joey loves his parents as much Lady Gaga and Humpty Dumpty love his parents. ---
**Author:** ![Ynnad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4491bb/32.png) [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxford-comma-poll/974594/35 "2022-11-08T22:03:58Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > … switch that to “I love Lady Gaga, Humpty Dumpty and my parents …” Sometimes the order in which names are listed matters. I have learned this when addressing emails in large companies. Some people are offended (sometimes unconsciously) by where their names appear in the list. Your parents might be, rightly or wrongly, offended because they perceive this as you loving Lady Gaga and Humpty Dumpty more than you love them. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxford-comma-poll/974594/36 "2022-11-08T22:17:12Z")
> [@Ynnad](#): > > Some people are offended (sometimes unconsciously) by where their names appear in the list. Listening to Tom Petty’s song "Free Falling:, > She’s a good girl, loves her mama, > Loves Jesus, and America, too. > She’s a good girl, crazy 'bout Elvis, > Loves horses, and her boyfriend, too. I always thought the boyfriend got short shrift. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxford-comma-poll/974594/37 "2022-11-08T22:18:58Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > > [@Ynnad](#): > > > > Some people are offended (sometimes unconsciously) by where their names appear in the list. > > Listening to Tom Petty’s song "Free Falling:, > > > She’s a good girl, loves her mama, > > Loves Jesus, and America, too. > > She’s a good girl, crazy 'bout Elvis, > > Loves horses, and her boyfriend, too. > > I always thought the boyfriend **got short shrift.** - Compared to a horse, yes. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxford-comma-poll/974594/38 "2022-11-08T22:22:48Z")
I always use it- to do otherwise would be uncivilized in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Dogginit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogginit/32/16920_2.png) [@Dogginit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogginit)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxford-comma-poll/974594/39 "2022-11-08T22:38:17Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > \*an indictment of the American education system? Or a revolution long overdue? You make the call! Right up there with not using other proper punctuation, correct grammar, knowing how to spell, parse a sentence, etc. 😆 ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxford-comma-poll/974594/40 "2022-11-08T22:47:38Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > The only legitimate reason to use (or not use) an Oxford comma is convention. You either follow a convention that uses it, or you don’t. I used to like conventions a lot during my working years. Especially if there was an open bar. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxford-comma-poll/974594.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxford-comma-poll/974594.md?page=3)