The second one would be a much more interesting party though
"Ask not what the stripper can do for you, but what you can do for the stripper"
"Lapdances are far more powerful than guns. We don't allow our enemies to have guns, why should we allow them to have Lapdances?"
Repeat viewings of this still won't convince me of the Oxford Comma.
Thirteen English teachers through school and not once was it ever brought up. We were in fact actively taught that a comma preceding the word "and" was wrong.
.
I researched this the last time it popped up and the apparent goal of the Oxford Comma is to avoid confusion. However, this has been challenged as it too can create confusion of its own.
.
If you want to "avoid confusion," dont be lazy and get better at composing your sentance structure. Don't use the comma as a crutch.
.
I would rewrite that first example as:
"We invited JFK, Stalin and the strippers."
.
Problem solved.
Technically, no. The use of, or omission of that comma (as far as I'm concerned.) is a stylistic choice.
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Some may say that it's use is the *correct* way to write a serial list, but as I mention above, I was taught that a comma preceding "and" was wrong. I can remember my 7th grade teacher actually talking about it. Never, not once in school was it ever mentioned that it was called the Oxford Comma. I didn't even learn that it was even a thing and had a name until a couple years ago.
.
That's why I initially reacted so strongly on the matter when I first learned it was a thing. After the way I was taught, I thought those people were out of their damned gourd. I've chilled out about it now... but I still find it slightly grating.
"Ask not what the stripper can do for you, but what you can do for the stripper"
"Lapdances are far more powerful than guns. We don't allow our enemies to have guns, why should we allow them to have Lapdances?"
Thirteen English teachers through school and not once was it ever brought up. We were in fact actively taught that a comma preceding the word "and" was wrong.
.
I researched this the last time it popped up and the apparent goal of the Oxford Comma is to avoid confusion. However, this has been challenged as it too can create confusion of its own.
.
If you want to "avoid confusion," dont be lazy and get better at composing your sentance structure. Don't use the comma as a crutch.
.
I would rewrite that first example as:
"We invited JFK, Stalin and the strippers."
.
Problem solved.
.
Some may say that it's use is the *correct* way to write a serial list, but as I mention above, I was taught that a comma preceding "and" was wrong. I can remember my 7th grade teacher actually talking about it. Never, not once in school was it ever mentioned that it was called the Oxford Comma. I didn't even learn that it was even a thing and had a name until a couple years ago.
.
That's why I initially reacted so strongly on the matter when I first learned it was a thing. After the way I was taught, I thought those people were out of their damned gourd. I've chilled out about it now... but I still find it slightly grating.
They're cruel