Grammar's great divide: The Oxford comma - TED-Ed

Поділитися
Вставка
  • Опубліковано 31 гру 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 1,9 тис.

  • @ITR
    @ITR 9 років тому +3311

    Bring:
    * Bob
    * A DJ
    * A clown

    • @first-last3577
      @first-last3577 7 років тому +59

      ITR not any better. a little bit excessive compared to straight forward sentence.

    • @JazzPikmin
      @JazzPikmin 6 років тому +159

      You're hired for Oxford

    • @rahimmitha7636
      @rahimmitha7636 6 років тому +179

      *Harvard: 1 missed call

    • @pear6554
      @pear6554 6 років тому +65

      dude...
      *THAT'S GENIUS*

    • @alejrandom6592
      @alejrandom6592 6 років тому +39

      * and a puppy

  • @geor_frias
    @geor_frias 5 років тому +274

    I just realized, the video favors the Oxford comma because it placed one at 0:39, writing: "and, or, or nor", instead of: "and, or or nor"

    • @s.l.3281
      @s.l.3281 4 роки тому +43

      TedEd was covering the debate between the Oxford's comma usage, not saying that it was up for debate.
      It's pretty well-accepted that the Oxford comma is grammatically correct, as can be see in the last example.

    • @ashleywu8170
      @ashleywu8170 4 роки тому +3

      Gabriel Henschen I don’t see the problem. And you just did what you told them not to do.

    • @namelastname2724
      @namelastname2724 4 роки тому

      @Gabriel Henschen that really only applies to questions. Besides, most people don't mind and you didn't write the original comment

    • @Rolando_Cueva
      @Rolando_Cueva 4 роки тому +11

      or or nor looks really funny

    • @ledzeppelin1212
      @ledzeppelin1212 4 роки тому +2

      I caught that as well!

  • @ok_schlatter
    @ok_schlatter 7 років тому +865

    I remember being taught that it was optional, but I kept using it anyway because to me it seemed more organized. Just my opinion and preference.

    • @Fx_Explains
      @Fx_Explains 4 роки тому +6

      @@fallingumbrellahunter205 nah the first sentence is more cleaner, the one with the comma. You just being delusional

    • @kinawa2845
      @kinawa2845 4 роки тому +9

      @@Fx_Explains tht's what he has said XDD "It would be more cleaner than not using it"

    • @shiningemeralds8024
      @shiningemeralds8024 4 роки тому +1

      Agreed.

    • @JustANervousWreck
      @JustANervousWreck 4 роки тому +5

      I had always heard of it and thought it was some extensive, hard-to-remember grammar rule that I wouldn’t be able to understand in a million years. But when I looked into it I realised it is something I use everyday!

    • @WHYISEVERYHANDLEALREADYTAKEN9
      @WHYISEVERYHANDLEALREADYTAKEN9 4 роки тому

      Same lol

  • @Mythraen
    @Mythraen 4 роки тому +470

    "There are so many bigger things to worry about."
    Don't be silly, the Coronavirus is smaller than a comma.

  • @shafey
    @shafey 9 років тому +2681

    In Arabic, we put a conjunction after every separate entity.
    So, it's like saying "Bring Bob and a DJ and a clown.

    • @gootmanboats3864
      @gootmanboats3864 9 років тому +217

      أحمد الشافعى That's a great system! That's how it works in programming languages, too.

    • @joebazooks
      @joebazooks 9 років тому +104

      أحمد الشافعى that's super interesting. it seems like another great way to avoid confusion.

    • @justin_grindley
      @justin_grindley 9 років тому +20

      And here in 'Murica, it's just not natural for that.

    • @francelynbinondo1894
      @francelynbinondo1894 9 років тому +4

      +‫أحمد الشافعى‬‎ Isn't redundant?

    • @shafey
      @shafey 9 років тому +121

      Francelyn Binondo No, not at all.
      That's primarily because the conjunction that's equivalent to "and" in Arabic is just a single letter; the letter "و". It's easy to pronounce and takes up very little space.

  • @maxis2k
    @maxis2k 7 років тому +1466

    "And the very idea of a grammatical rule being optional is a bit odd."
    Welcome to English. Where there's a half dozen exceptions to every rule.

    • @chiefdvm1671
      @chiefdvm1671 4 роки тому +6

      🙃🙃

    • @doeliewaaje1761
      @doeliewaaje1761 4 роки тому +56

      If you think English is inconsistent...
      don't even start learning Dutch....
      it's a nightmare...
      *shivers*

    • @chiefdvm1671
      @chiefdvm1671 4 роки тому +12

      @@doeliewaaje1761 well it would be easy to speak rather than to write, I guess??

    • @doeliewaaje1761
      @doeliewaaje1761 4 роки тому +11

      @@chiefdvm1671 well yeah that's true...
      The way it's written is just really weird...

    • @chiefdvm1671
      @chiefdvm1671 4 роки тому +10

      @@doeliewaaje1761 yeah...it's with every language😢

  • @TrindyForce
    @TrindyForce 10 років тому +652

    If my first editor hates oxford commas, then there's a reason he was only the first.

    • @astrobookwormsinger
      @astrobookwormsinger 5 років тому +3

      XD Nicely said!

    • @lumina_
      @lumina_ 4 роки тому +3

      That makes no sense. If you agreed with your first editor on that and stayed with him/her, they'd still be your first editor
      edit: nvm ignore me lol

    • @marcus4403
      @marcus4403 4 роки тому +11

      @@lumina_ Then...obviously, there wasn't an agreement.

    • @masamune9082
      @masamune9082 4 роки тому

      Glass of Milk hey why do I keep finding your comment?

    • @kqatsi
      @kqatsi 2 роки тому

      @@lumina_ "only the first" implies that the editor wasn't the last.

  • @amcghie7
    @amcghie7 9 років тому +743

    My teachers hated it in high school, but I use it often ;)

    • @sashabroadbent1494
      @sashabroadbent1494 9 років тому +29

      I like what you've done here.

    • @liawatson5789
      @liawatson5789 9 років тому

      +Sasha Broadbent me, too.😉

    • @UnderscoreZeroLP
      @UnderscoreZeroLP 9 років тому +22

      +Sasha Broadbent
      Nope. His comment had nothing to do with the video.

    • @jouebien
      @jouebien 8 років тому +8

      +Even Andy
      In short sentences some writers will remove the "serial comma" because it feels unnecessary. You'll find that most situations where you use a "serial comma" you would be better off with using a ";" or splitting the sentence into or adding "()". In a school setting they prefer you not to use the serial comma because it increases sentence length. Increase in sentence length often results in sentences that convey more than one idea. Convey more than one idea makes understating the sentence a lot harder for the reader. As a result in an academic settings it's often found upon as a bad hobbit.

    • @amcghie7
      @amcghie7 8 років тому

      ***** (it was just a wee joke)

  • @michaelpowell3204
    @michaelpowell3204 10 років тому +473

    I actually abandoned what I was taught in favor of the Oxford comma. I also put punctuation outside of quotes when it is not part of the quote because i am a programmer and logic demands it.

    • @sabret00the
      @sabret00the 10 років тому +86

      Punctuation should be outside of the quotes, I vehemently agree with that.

    • @jasonbland4300
      @jasonbland4300 10 років тому +62

      "Punctuation outside the Quotes". It is logical when the punctuation is outside the quote if it is not part of the quote, i thought that was normal and should only be a comma or period anyway. "Punctuation inside the Quotes!" - he exclaimed, @sabret00the if it is part of the quote is also normal and would usually be an exclaimation or question mark - that is my understanding.

    • @michaelpowell3204
      @michaelpowell3204 10 років тому +20

      My understanding is that it's normal in the UK and not in the US. If so,this is a case where I think UK grammarians are correct.

    • @lukethegreat101
      @lukethegreat101 10 років тому +18

      You must also be very particular about your semi-colons.

    • @durdleduc8520
      @durdleduc8520 7 років тому +12

      I use the oxford comma and put the punctuation outside the quote if it isn’t part of the quote (Ex: Erin said, “My name is Erin.”. Notice the two periods.)

  • @Fishbiene
    @Fishbiene 9 років тому +765

    Does anyone else see the irony in dedicating a book to both Ayn Rand and God?

    • @friedelmajoor8469
      @friedelmajoor8469 9 років тому +3

      Dus this mean you are a new Jezus? Around minute 3.09 there stands "Ik draag dit boek op aan mijn ouders, Ayn Rand en God." So your parents got to be Ayn Rand and God?
      betekend dit dat jij een nieuwe Jezus bent? rond minuut 3.09 staat er.
      "I dedicate this book to my parents, Ayn Rand and God." Dus jouw ouders
      zijn Ayn Rand en God?
      +Fishbiene Irony noticed

    • @shreyasrao125
      @shreyasrao125 9 років тому +35

      +Fishbiene Capitalist Jesus. FINALLY THE REPUBLICAN'S PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED.

    • @jred7
      @jred7 8 років тому +1

      +Fishbiene no, because I'm sure there is much common ground in each of their own respective goals and desires, depending on which god you are talking about and at which point in her life Ayn Rand was.

    • @paulroys5019
      @paulroys5019 8 років тому +30

      +Fishbiene Not when they happen to be your parents, no.

    • @kwokwu6040
      @kwokwu6040 8 років тому

      + 0

  • @erikliljenwall8185
    @erikliljenwall8185 3 роки тому +262

    I’ve never encountered a situation where the Oxford comma made a sentence less clear, but omitting it always has the potential to cause confusion.

    • @nicholus_h2
      @nicholus_h2 2 роки тому +7

      are you supposed to bring Bob (who is a DJ) and a clown? that's how the sentence with the Oxford comma treats to many people. the Oxford comma creates as much ambiguity as it resolves.

    • @shwarzn-
      @shwarzn- 2 роки тому +26

      @@nicholus_h2 Well to be honest I don't see a confusion here, if I were to encounter a sentence like "Bob, a DJ and a clown" I'd assume to bring Bob, a person who has the ability to be both a Dj and a clown at the same time. With the oxford comma I can understand that its "Bob, a DJ, and a clown" so I bring 1 Bob, 1 DJ, and 1 clown. 3 completely different people

    • @ultimateoriginalgod
      @ultimateoriginalgod 2 роки тому +12

      @@shwarzn- The list itself is bad though, as you can still argue that you were asked to bring two people: Bob who is a DJ and a yet unknown clown. A better list altogether might be, "a DJ, a clown and Bob," since there is little chance mistaking the meaning there.

    • @shwarzn-
      @shwarzn- 2 роки тому +2

      @@ultimateoriginalgod I can't see how anyone can think either of those are wrong tbh. Just do what you want

    • @nicholus_h2
      @nicholus_h2 2 роки тому +7

      @@shwarzn- If I wanted you to bring two people: 1. Bob (who is a DJ), and 2. a clown, using the Oxford comma, i would write "bring Bob, a DJ, and a clown." And, as you stated, you would incorrectly assume I meant to bring 3 completely different people.
      So...you assume there's no confusion, but you actually proved its there. The Oxford comma has introduced just as much confusion as it cleared up.

  • @juliek.2400
    @juliek.2400 2 роки тому +20

    Yeah, I’m a fan of the Oxford comma because it makes the items listed more parallel, hence clear, to me. It did bother one of my professors before and his argument was simply “it used up a space.” I think I’ll continue to use it.

  • @RonFinkWriter
    @RonFinkWriter 10 років тому +127

    My English teachers in High School opposed it, and even marked it as a mistake and lowered my grades for using it. My teachers in classes at UNLV hated it too, but they didn't mark me down for using it. I use it because it makes my writing easier to read, parse, and understand.

    • @cameii77
      @cameii77 9 років тому +7

      +Ron Fink I experienced the opposite. I was taught not to use it, but was marked down for not using by one of my lecturers at uni. I actually find lists of three or more items easier to understand without it. "Bring Bob, the DJ, and a dog" implies for me that Bob is the DJ, and thus I'd be looking for a DJ called Bob!

    • @zzz-lo8vg
      @zzz-lo8vg 2 роки тому +6

      @@cameii77 that is because you used the a definite article rather than an indefinite article like "a"

    • @judsongaiden9878
      @judsongaiden9878 2 роки тому +3

      Your teachers should have been fired.

    • @serge_siskin
      @serge_siskin 2 роки тому +1

      I see what you did there, and I totally respect that. Yet, the final comma makes my reading stumble a bit, like I find a final distraction on my way to the exit. I, personally, find it very easy to understand that "read, parse and understand" refer to the adverb "easier", but the comma makes it kinda seem "look, it makes my writing easier to read, parse and SEE, IT ALSO MAKES IT EASIER TO UNDERSTAND. DID YOU SEE IT? I MADE IT MORE THAN EVIDENT". As it's been said in the video, the personal preference has a part. I'd get rid of Oxford commas in simple lists, but would leave them in more complex sentences, like the first of this rant.

    • @avivastudios2311
      @avivastudios2311 Рік тому

      I just don't get what the point is of putting a comma before the word 'and.'

  • @BallyBoy95
    @BallyBoy95 9 років тому +322

    That ending though. xD

    • @nu.wa.n
      @nu.wa.n 9 років тому +10

      +Bruce Wayne God looks very pleased.

    • @VocalEdgeTV
      @VocalEdgeTV 5 років тому +7

      Haha I just commented on how it proves why it’s needed. Very solid humor.

    • @thecreativemastermin
      @thecreativemastermin 4 роки тому

      Haha. I know. Such a troll.

    • @danzhang1412
      @danzhang1412 3 роки тому +1

      Funny seeing you here, are you learning grammar rules to better converse with arms dealers?

    • @BallyBoy95
      @BallyBoy95 3 роки тому +1

      @@danzhang1412 Sshhh, you're not wrong, but I don't want everyone to know what I'm up to.

  • @joefennell6220
    @joefennell6220 7 років тому +655

    Let's eat, Grandma!
    Let's eat Grandma!
    Commas save lives

    • @charjl96
      @charjl96 7 років тому +12

      In some cases....

    • @oliverescobar
      @oliverescobar 7 років тому +157

      Joseph Fennell yes but the comma used is not an Oxford comma.

    • @mundanest
      @mundanest 6 років тому +20

      This doesn't seperate 2 seperate entity, there is only 1 subject.

    • @flavio2914
      @flavio2914 6 років тому +3

      Cyd Oliver Escobar what's the difference between comma and Oxford comma?

    • @learnenglishnow123
      @learnenglishnow123 6 років тому +1

      @@mundanest entities

  • @StormcloudLive
    @StormcloudLive 4 роки тому +8

    For the people from different languages suggesting their ways of doing things to be better, remember in English we have the 2 words of Read and Read when it comes to the action or completion of the action of reading a booking.... the way we tell them apart is that one is pronounced like the word lead whereas the other one is pronounced like the word lead.

  • @muznerd
    @muznerd 9 років тому +551

    Yes for Oxford Comma!

  • @pattmahiney
    @pattmahiney 4 роки тому +52

    I like the outro text. *"I dedicate this book to my parents, Any Rand and God."* This reminds me of Eats, Shoots, and Leaves.
    Btw I'm all for the oxford comma, too.

    • @explorelearnshare8222
      @explorelearnshare8222 4 роки тому +1

      The idea of a satiated Panda with a gun is amusing.

    • @ultimateoriginalgod
      @ultimateoriginalgod 2 роки тому +2

      Maybe a better sentence might be " *I dedicate this book to my mom, my dad, Ayn Rand and God,* " since the items of the list are now all singular. Parallelism is important y'all

    • @pattmahiney
      @pattmahiney 2 роки тому +3

      @@ultimateoriginalgod very true. I'd rather have the reader wonder why I mentioned my parents separately than wonder which one of them is god 😂

  • @matthewluck9077
    @matthewluck9077 7 років тому +4

    I like the serial comma because if you don't use it, the last two items in a list look like they should be one entity or you don't read it right the first time because you don't pause when reading. For example: "Lisa, Jack, Angela, Henry and Grace" looks like the list should be going on because the comma should be what separates the words, not conjunctions. Also, conjunctions can be included in lists like: "Hector and April, Lou and Mary, Geoff and Carol, and Francis and Frankie are married."

  • @jjtomecek1623
    @jjtomecek1623 8 років тому +633

    I'm in support of it. The ending confused me so much without the Oxford comma lol

    • @nanda-re2yp
      @nanda-re2yp 8 років тому +19

      AJ Tomecek yet somehow you forgot to put a period.

    • @miu__m
      @miu__m 8 років тому +17

      Narasirp who the fuck uses proper sentences on a UA-cam comment

    • @nanda-re2yp
      @nanda-re2yp 8 років тому +4

      Kelly G and somehow you don't get this joke.

    • @miu__m
      @miu__m 8 років тому +1

      and somehow you don't get my joke

    • @nanda-re2yp
      @nanda-re2yp 8 років тому +3

      Kelly G i get it, that's why i make that joke m8.

  • @nobodysalterego2832
    @nobodysalterego2832 7 років тому +44

    How to solve the problem (in Sweden)
    Enumeration: "bob, a dj and a clown" (3 ppl)
    To signal that bob is a dj and a clown there's one formal and one informal way.
    "Bob: a dj and a clown" (formal)
    "Bob - a dj and a clown" (informal)
    The formal is used for clarity and will be found in science papers etc.
    The informal is used for a smooth reading experience such as you expect from say a novel.
    I can't imagine what would prevent the anglo-saxon world from adopting a system like this and watch the problem go away. *sees the metric system* oh

    • @Fx_Explains
      @Fx_Explains 4 роки тому

      I hope you are not trying to say that there is something wrong with the metric system, are you?

  • @noodles1291
    @noodles1291 4 роки тому +24

    All my hs teachers mark me wrong when I use this and I cringe knowing that I’m technically in the right

  • @likhithchandragiri6245
    @likhithchandragiri6245 7 років тому +88

    Here in India we follow british English and I didn't even know of the existence of the Oxford comma until watching this video. I've always been taught to never put a comma before a conjunction.

    • @tejaskala516
      @tejaskala516 5 років тому +17

      In our school, we were taught to always use the Oxford comma, even if it might be causing a problem
      Btw I'm an Indian

    • @borednsleepy
      @borednsleepy 5 років тому

      SAME

    • @lellyparker
      @lellyparker 5 років тому +12

      It is more of an American thing. Even the Oxford Style Guide says *not* to use it _unless_ it is necessary to prevent ambiguity.

    • @Shadow-Shell
      @Shadow-Shell 4 роки тому

      @@tejaskala516
      Was that taught in an Indian school?

    • @ellenamontana1352
      @ellenamontana1352 3 роки тому

      Same with me , I'm from Newfoundland Canada and I just heard of it.

  • @babyfingers9874
    @babyfingers9874 4 роки тому +18

    You know, if Bob was really a Dj, the person could’ve just texted like this:
    ‘Bring Bob (a DJ) and a puppy

  • @spaghettiyeti6408
    @spaghettiyeti6408 10 років тому +14

    I've always been taught not to use the Oxford comma, but nevertheless I tend to use it because I usually take the view that it makes things clearer. I got asked in an English test once to put the commas in a piece of writing, and I was left with no idea whether they wanted me to use Oxford commas or not as their usage is such a debated issue!

    • @charjl96
      @charjl96 7 років тому +1

      It's redundant since you're using the commas in place of conjunctions. It's like saying "and and"

  • @monstrellsf-w8277
    @monstrellsf-w8277 4 роки тому +10

    0:54 it may not be as recommended, but in the uk I’ve never seen anyone not use the Oxford comma.

  • @vousvxyez
    @vousvxyez 4 роки тому +3

    She did bring a clown, which was herself thinking Bob was a DJ

  • @ProfDragonVale
    @ProfDragonVale 8 років тому +71

    I'm all for the Oxford Comma

  • @harunsuaidi7349
    @harunsuaidi7349 5 років тому +34

    I always use Oxford comma because I feel that it's more "fair" to the words. I list things and I want every single one of them accompanied by a punctuation mark. I don't want any of the words to be lonely.

  • @notreal77
    @notreal77 7 років тому +20

    I think most people keen on coherent communication would opt to use it, and for good measure, too. I love the Oxford comma (call me a commanist) for its function, and I also love it stylistically, since for me, a comma can be like a breath in a sentence, so having a list where you have a breath between each item except the last two would just sound inconsistent and add unwanted emphasis.
    Like "daisies, sunflowers, tulips, and roses" as opposed to "daisies, sunflowers, tulips and roses". It might entirely depend on the reader, but at least for me, the second version both looks and sounds inconsistent and awkward because there is a visible barrier created by the comma between the first three items but not between the last two. Oxford comma just reads and looks better.

    • @serge_siskin
      @serge_siskin 2 роки тому +3

      Hello. For my personal taste, the last comma is unnecessary. If a writer does not trust their audience to separate sunflowers from tulips and daisies, I think there is a bigger problem. As the languages tend to go with the simplification, my prognosis is for the Oxford comma to dissipate in the next 5-10 years or so. Maybe the serial comma will be substituted with "and also", which again, for my taste, solves the problem quite radically.

    • @batteredskullsummit9854
      @batteredskullsummit9854 6 місяців тому

      It's jarring to me. Breaks the flow of the sentence. I never use them, never see a need to use them, just write the sentence clearly as you would speak it to someone, then you never need oxford commas

  • @CybeargPlays
    @CybeargPlays 10 років тому +101

    I'm in the pro-Oxford Comma category, thank you!

  • @IbeatHalo1onLegendary
    @IbeatHalo1onLegendary 3 роки тому +3

    0:07 Let me fix that for you:
    "Bring Bob, *who is* a DJ and a clown"

  • @Lycian
    @Lycian 9 років тому +140

    The Oxford comma - Use it. Love it.

  • @fongdimbulator
    @fongdimbulator 4 роки тому +1

    I didn't grow up using it but started implementing it out of necessity when listing item pairs eg
    "Gin and juice, lemon and lime and rum and cola"
    becomes:
    "Gin and juice, lemon and lime, and rum and cola"
    Or possibly with ampersands:
    "Gin & juice, lemon & lime, and rum & cola"
    I dont know if this is technically the best way but it read the best to my eyes and internal monologue.

  • @Lerkero
    @Lerkero 10 років тому +35

    I always use oxford commas when listing things. It sounds more natural in pronunciation. If Bob is a DJ and a clown then I am less likely to pause between those two things. If I were listing "Bob, a DJ, and a clown" I would likely pause while saying each item on the list.
    To solve the problem I would probably use a dash or reword the sentence. Perhaps "Bob, a clowning DJ"

  • @that_pac123
    @that_pac123 9 років тому +171

    GO SERIAL COMMA!!!

    • @ARP2wefightforyou
      @ARP2wefightforyou 9 років тому +9

      yep, yes, and yeah!

    • @ishwar8119
      @ishwar8119 9 років тому +3

      +that_pac12 I agree.

    • @cimmik
      @cimmik 9 років тому +55

      The serial comma, also called oxford comma, looks better, makes more sense, and prevents confusion.

    • @ARP2wefightforyou
      @ARP2wefightforyou 9 років тому +20

      cimmik I see what you did there.

  • @wenaolong
    @wenaolong 4 роки тому +5

    I always instinctively and reflexively use this comma. For example, we have conventions already that point out different clauses in a sentence so that the idea can be grasped easily. If we want to say that ninjas, pirates, and vikings, who included among their number both old and young ages, then we'd simply say "Ninjas, pirates, and vikings, both old and young". If we meant to extend to old and young people who were not those first three entities, then we'd say "Ninjas, pirates, vikings, and others both old and young." If all of them were both old and young then you'd simply alter it like this "Ninjas, pirates, and vikings, all both old and young". You don't have to make a sentence so poorly that it's entire meaning hinges on a comma. If you wanted to specify one of those categories, then you'd say "Ninjas, pirates, and vikings both old and young." It's not that difficult. And in this case you are without reasonable ambiguity. Look further into it and it is even more apparent that the "Sensible Comma" is needed to avoid confusions. What if it had read "Ninjas, pirates and vikings both old and young"? Then clearly you are emphasizing that pirates and vikings had both old and young instances.

  • @josephhfry
    @josephhfry 7 років тому +2

    Just ran into a problem ordering doughnuts. The store's website lists a variety of flavors they can drizzle on them,: chocolate, caramel, lemon, raspberry & blackberry. I assumed that it was a "raspberry & blackberry" flavored drizzle, rather than two separate drizzles. A) those flavors are commonly combined, B) they used and ampersand rather than the word 'and', which I often equate to a "+", C) I was raised using the Oxford comma.
    When it comes to lists, there should be a comma between every unique item on the list.

    • @lr7845
      @lr7845 7 років тому

      Joseph Fry 100% agree

  • @adamthornton7880
    @adamthornton7880 10 років тому +42

    Of course, Ayn Rand and God both being people you admire would also be a bit odd.

  • @Gameknight2169
    @Gameknight2169 2 роки тому +2

    Oxford Comma:
    “We invited the strippers, JFK, and Stalin.”
    Lack of Oxford Comma:
    “We invited the strippers, JFK and Stalin.”

  • @richardhollis3783
    @richardhollis3783 9 років тому +5

    I generally avoid it but sometimes notice that it would be useful. Grammar is basically just about making your writing easily understandable for your readers. Good grammar is just good manners. :-)

  • @abonynge
    @abonynge 7 років тому +3

    My 4th grade writing teacher forced us to use the oxford comma in all cases. She also asked for clarity on situations that would have been more clear without that comma. I learned rather young that it needs to be chosen based on the content of the sentence and not for aesthetic purposes. Sadly I never had a teacher who agreed with me on that point.

  • @LukesEnglishPodcast
    @LukesEnglishPodcast 10 років тому +8

    Why would you want to bring a clown to a party anyway?

    • @Bramble451
      @Bramble451 10 років тому +15

      To scare children.

    • @mygills3050
      @mygills3050 4 роки тому

      Bramble451
      Can I bring children to scare the clowns out?

  • @ZHBG-ll7fy
    @ZHBG-ll7fy 8 років тому +2

    Me: So what do you like to eat?
    Friend: Cheese, peanut butter and jelly and bananas.
    Oxford commas make it easier for me to tell if my friends have normal tastes in food.

  • @mollybrown8361
    @mollybrown8361 3 роки тому +5

    I am an English Undergrad at university and I support the Oxford comma. It makes sense to me. Solves more problems than it causes. My school didn’t teach it but I think I started using it at university when I found out about it.

  • @jalcome4201
    @jalcome4201 2 роки тому +2

    The contra of "Bob, a DJ (descriptive), and a puppy" can be avoided without any additional info, simply by adhering to conversational standards: Dont bring up information when it's not necessary. You want a list of ppl to bring? List them, and them only. Noone needs to know hes a DJ. And if its important enough, put it in a separate sentence. "Bob and a puppy. Bob will be the DJ."

  • @IVEXUS
    @IVEXUS 10 років тому +30

    I'm German and wrote a thesis in English. I really envy the English language for that comma. Even without knowing of its existents, the related problem occurred to me many times when writing German texts.

    • @jessxkirby38
      @jessxkirby38 3 роки тому +1

      It is spelt "existence". I expect you are German and English is not your first language, so I cannot hold you liable for spelling mistakes. Still, you clicked on a video that was about English language rules, so you have to expect someone would correct you.

    • @procatist8624
      @procatist8624 3 роки тому +26

      The award for the most unnecessary comment goes to:@@jessxkirby38

    • @SleepBeforeYouThink
      @SleepBeforeYouThink 3 роки тому +5

      It actually surprises me that there is anything about English that is superior compared to German. The way Germans talk, German is a god tier language that does everything better than other languages. Why do Germans say this? Is it true that German is the most comprehensive language? I’ve heard German is more precise, clear, direct, and flexible. The titular saying with regard to the German language is a true one. When people say, “The Germans have a word for that”, this is not an exaggeration; the German language is almost endlessly expandable and its vocabulary is almost infinitely flexible, with new words being able to be created spontaneously just by combining two German nouns together.

    • @serge_siskin
      @serge_siskin 2 роки тому

      @@procatist8624 You are the first runner-up, congratulations!

    • @serge_siskin
      @serge_siskin 2 роки тому

      ​@@SleepBeforeYouThink Whilst you are not wrong, punctuation and lexicology are different parts of any given language. While German is more flexible in terms of making new words from the existing ones, English may be richer in some other things. Also, it is good to keep in mind that German and English belong to different language groups, meaning they are not really comparable from a linguistics point of view. I'm not an accomplished linguist myself, those are just my thoughts as a person who's interested in languages.

  • @dylanlcreser
    @dylanlcreser 7 років тому +1

    I was brought up not to use it, but then I came to my senses, started using it, and convinced my whole family to start using it.

  • @rkpetry
    @rkpetry 7 років тому +3

    The "a" gave the whole away-she thought "Bob, a DJ and [-a-] clown"

  • @edwardoakry7327
    @edwardoakry7327 3 роки тому +2

    My high school english teacher taught me to use the oxford comma; then again she also taught me the use of commas, annotations, and semicolons to name a few.

  • @kerplunc9192
    @kerplunc9192 7 років тому +6

    I'm from ireland and when I heard it I immediately thought that she had to bring three different people and I don't understand the confusion. I can't understand how people would interpret it differently

    • @charjl96
      @charjl96 7 років тому +1

      If they don't understand context they might get it wrong, but I don't see how that should be a problem for the rest of us.

    • @trevinbeattie4888
      @trevinbeattie4888 7 років тому +2

      It's the written form which is problematic, not the spoken form. If in the spoken form the pause between each word is the same, you can infer there are three people; but if there were a longer pause between "Bob" and "a DJ and a clown," you would instead infer that the latter pair describe Bob. Now imagine that the presence of a comma adds a slightly longer pause between words than where a comma is absent. This makes you "hear" the latter case when reading.

  • @cfaerber
    @cfaerber 4 роки тому +2

    "Bring Bob as well as a DJ and a clown." Works also in voice messages.

  • @pieiem
    @pieiem 8 років тому +23

    I really don't get why this is confusing, maybe because I'm not an English native speaker but seriously, if Bob is a dj you could just say "Bring bob the dj and a clown" the other way sounds like there are 3 different people.
    And the end bit sounds like the dedication is for 4 people which are mum, dad, any rand and God.
    If you wanna imply your parents are Ayn Rand and God you just don't put the comma after the word parents.

    • @Anastas1786
      @Anastas1786 8 років тому +5

      Maybe that's not how it works in _your_ native language, but it's perfectly valid in English.

    • @pieiem
      @pieiem 8 років тому +5

      Anastas1786 yes I know, what I meant to me it isn't confusing as may be for someone else!

    • @charjl96
      @charjl96 7 років тому +2

      Seems you get the language better than most English speakers here.... or maybe it's just common sense

    • @Justagirlwithasmile
      @Justagirlwithasmile 6 років тому +2

      Or you know:
      "Bring Bob (a DJ) and a clown." Who would EVER seriously write "Bring Bob, a DJ and a clown," when they weren't referring to separate entities?
      Nobody writes like that in real life.

    • @AdaliaXoxo
      @AdaliaXoxo 6 років тому +1

      Thank you

  • @iagreewithyoubub
    @iagreewithyoubub 4 роки тому +1

    I was brought up in the east coast USA where absolutely we were taught "no comma!" I was in my thirties when I finally bucked the local trend and began using it, to my Chicago-based editor's approval.

  • @looneytunes4267
    @looneytunes4267 7 років тому +12

    Everyone here is supporting meanwhile I'm used to things without the Oxford comma and the Oxford Comma only makes me confused LOL

  • @Manos_P_
    @Manos_P_ 4 роки тому +1

    Do do you fight for grammatical rules?
    Greek: Hold my alphabet.
    υ, ι, η, ει, οι five letters mean the same thing.

  • @Jivvi
    @Jivvi 8 років тому +9

    2:20 "old and young" aren't the last two items in the list; they are descriptors of the already completed list. You wouldn't say "people, old, and young"; you'd say "people old and young" because you're describing the people, not listing three separate groups. A comma there would be completely unnecessary, confusing, and not an Oxford comma at all.

    • @EstrelSteel
      @EstrelSteel 8 років тому +3

      The point is that without the comma, it is confusing whether you are describing the listed people or if "old and young" are part of the list.

    • @TheCinnamondemon
      @TheCinnamondemon 8 років тому +3

      the point is that as long as the oxford comma is optional, we can never truly know what was meant. there's no debating, no arguing, nothing. the only way to know if the writer meant "old and young" as in describing the previous people or as in introducing two new groups is to ask the writer himself.

    • @kqatsi
      @kqatsi 2 роки тому

      No, you missed the point, as Estrel and Mariam pointed out.

  • @marclouiepg670
    @marclouiepg670 4 роки тому +1

    Please bring Bob the DJ, and a puppy.

  • @eleonoramendy
    @eleonoramendy 10 років тому +9

    Bring Bob - a DJ and a clown.

    • @SteveWhite1104
      @SteveWhite1104 10 років тому +2

      The hyphen is far less ambiguous, isn't it?
      I'm a big em-dash man. They graphically and clearly delineate a necessary digression - most often a clarification or a sidebar - from the crux of a sentence.

    • @giacomoferrieri2668
      @giacomoferrieri2668 4 роки тому +1

      Yes, @Eleonora Lindblom! And even typographically better: Bring Bob - a DJ and a clown.

    • @eleonoramendy
      @eleonoramendy 4 роки тому +1

      Yes, @@giacomoferrieri2668; as it has already secretly solved the debate.

  • @Maputlang_Hatdog
    @Maputlang_Hatdog 4 роки тому +2

    I actually didn’t use the Oxford comma when I started writing a book until I started reading some story excerpts that uses it.

  • @leaf8616
    @leaf8616 5 років тому +12

    I saw thing that said: "I dedicate this book to my parents, Ayn Rand and God" at the end and without even thinking I was automatically like, *"You forgot the comma"*

  • @manubhatt3
    @manubhatt3 7 років тому +2

    Did anyone else notice Bob picking his nose? It was really funny and a creative humor attempt by the animator!

  • @mssaarahn
    @mssaarahn 8 років тому +4

    At the beginning when the sentence was 'Please bring Bob, a DJ and a clown', I thought the woman was asked to bring the DJ and a clown for Bob. Anyone else read it like that?

    • @zoeosullivan2960
      @zoeosullivan2960 8 років тому +8

      No, but for the sentence to mean that you would have to ommit the comma, so it would read 'please bring Bob a DJ and a clown'.

  • @juanpablo-zuniga
    @juanpablo-zuniga 3 роки тому +1

    That comma is needed. Period.

  • @TheCodesterman
    @TheCodesterman 9 років тому +21

    This is interesting. But I got here looking for the song, "Oxford comma"

    • @starkiller578
      @starkiller578 7 років тому +4

      cody blablabla fuck yeah vampire weekend

    • @dudabaddini6684
      @dudabaddini6684 5 років тому +3

      who gives a f about an oxford comma?

    • @WiloPolis03
      @WiloPolis03 4 роки тому +1

      I've seen those English dramas too

  • @Graeko
    @Graeko 4 роки тому +2

    I was never taught to use, or not use the oxford comma. apparently I have been using it without knowing for a long time. The reason I used it was 1: It clears confusion. And 2: If I was reading aloud I would have naturally placed a small pause in the location of said comma.

    • @algotkristoffersson15
      @algotkristoffersson15 2 місяці тому

      Why are you writing the list in an order that makes the Oxford comma necessary in the first place?

  • @Yullenator
    @Yullenator 10 років тому +7

    I think not using the serial comma is a lot more annoying than without. O _o It just looks wrong, on top of being confusing. Canadian. Some of us use it, most of us don't. Drives me insane.

  • @caveymoley
    @caveymoley 6 років тому +2

    The trick is to always consider the use of a comma to be part of a list when ever it is not being used as a clarification pause, or the bridging of correlative statements.
    (Bracketed sentences work perfectly well as qualifiers, and for delivering superfluous clarifications.)

  • @zionj104
    @zionj104 4 роки тому +14

    Video: To use, or not to use?.
    Comments section: *YES*

  • @roydadancegod
    @roydadancegod 9 років тому

    That part at the end: "my parents, Aryn Rand and god" was absolutely priceless.

  • @WyWinner30
    @WyWinner30 7 років тому +5

    Please bring Bob, a DJ, and a Clown
    Please bring Bob, who is a DJ and a clown
    So much confusion could be avoided.

  • @w5527
    @w5527 4 роки тому +2

    Throughout all of my schooling, I’ve been told not to use the comma but a substitute teacher told us what it was in 3rd grade and I’ve used it since.

  • @Maks_Liadetskyi
    @Maks_Liadetskyi 3 роки тому +5

    Thanks for the video. As English is not my mother tongue, I didn’t know that such problem exists. It never occurred to me that:
    “Bob, a DJ and a clown” can mean that Bob is both those things.
    But I wonder, why don’t you use for example a rule, like in Slavic languages:
    The Meaning “Bob is ...” would be written down like “Bob - a DJ and a clown” because it is a definition.
    Or If you want to say:
    “My parents are Ayn Rand and God”, you would be writing “My parents: Ayn Rand and God”

    • @ultimateoriginalgod
      @ultimateoriginalgod 2 роки тому +1

      You can. It's people's poor grammar skills make the comma a substitute for other punctuation. I personally advocate most widespread use of all variants of colons, dashes and brackets currently underutilized. A good rule of thumb for writing a good list is structure matters more that punctuation, though you still might have to be a mind reader for bad sentences lol.

  • @Nintendoom64
    @Nintendoom64 5 років тому +1

    In the examples of confusion from USING the oxford comma, i don't see how it was actually the comma that caused the confusion, it seems it would be confusing with, and without the comma.

  • @dietraveler6214
    @dietraveler6214 8 років тому +12

    I love the Oxford comma. I've been using it since elementary school.

  • @jacobw4612
    @jacobw4612 4 роки тому +1

    In Chinese, instead of using commas (,) to separate parts of a list, we use a different punctuation mark. Used like this: Bring Bob、a DJ and a clown. We don't really use the oxford comma as the and or (和) is already good enough.

  • @ivanchagasp
    @ivanchagasp 9 років тому +5

    We never use Oxford comma in Portuguese (at least, I never ever heard/saw it). Which is funny, because usually it's taught American English. And I never saw it in English.
    In Portuguese, we some "rules" to avoid that confusion, even if it requires some repetition.
    We would say "Bring Bob, that is a DJ, and a clown". When we the verb requires preposition, sometimes we can repeate it, like: "Give the gift to Bob, to a DJ and to a clown".

  • @briannabushman7677
    @briannabushman7677 2 роки тому +1

    I use the Oxford comma because I think typically it solves more problems than it creates. If I were using the list in the video I would write “Bob, a DJ, and a clown” if I meant 3 separate people and “Bob (a DJ) and a clown” if I meant 2. If Bob is both a DJ and a clown I’d say “Bob, who is a DJ and a clown”. If the comma itself (or lack thereof) could still be ambiguous I would put more context for the sake of clarity. I’m very much pro-Oxford comma though.

  • @the_biblioklept2533
    @the_biblioklept2533 4 роки тому +5

    We should also add a punctuation mark for taking an audible rest or pause, as the comma does that, but also effects the meaning of the sentence

  • @TheEsterciithaa
    @TheEsterciithaa 7 років тому +2

    I didn't know the lack of a comma could get people confused, I mean In Spanish we don't put a comma before an "and" (y) because as it said, it already indicates a different subject.

    • @charjl96
      @charjl96 7 років тому

      Some people are just easily confused

  • @Bluelaserbeam
    @Bluelaserbeam 10 років тому +17

    I didn't even know there was a debate on it.

  • @florrie.6377
    @florrie.6377 8 років тому +1

    The way you were raised has a clear impact on this: the country you're from, the people who surround you. Personaly though, I think it's crazy how the video said America is one of the bigger users. One time this girl told me she knew I was foreign not because of an accent, but because of my constant (and, in her opinion, kinda unecessary) use of commas.

    • @JonatasAdoM
      @JonatasAdoM 8 років тому

      Yes, my native language is portuguese and we use comas as much as it seems necessary and it always made me confused because my teacher once told me that americans don't use it that often. Now that I noticed it is not weird and that it is truly recognized I'm going to start using more comas in my texts.

  • @mauriciopita1
    @mauriciopita1 3 роки тому +7

    I’m a big fan of the Oxford comma. I find it clear and useful.
    My colleagues at work disagree and in fact have chastised me for using it - demanding I remove it from my writing

  • @beluwuga2573
    @beluwuga2573 4 роки тому

    Well now he's gonna bring bob and a clown, thinking that bob is the dj.

  • @roberinoframe
    @roberinoframe 8 років тому +4

    One time when I was young my teacher said to never put a comma before 'and' and I was so confused cause I thought it was fine and I'm still annoyed at her cause using an Oxford comma has been so useful

  • @jhonnybravo2243
    @jhonnybravo2243 4 роки тому +1

    This is why I just use brackets for description (parentheses)

  • @shaangovender
    @shaangovender 7 років тому +3

    I'm so happy they included South Africa

  • @DaystromDataConcepts
    @DaystromDataConcepts 29 днів тому

    I always remember being taught at primary school in the UK that you never place a comma before the 'and' in a list. I never knew there was even an option to have one until using |Grammarly and having it insist on inserting commas before the 'and' in a list. It confused me terribly for a while until I researched this.
    I am still on the fence about using it as it seems to me that regular speech doesn't usually place a pause before the 'and'.

  • @dylanknlee
    @dylanknlee 10 років тому +4

    For the last part, to avoid confusion couldn't you state the adjective before the noun? Everyone had a great time, young and old Ninjas, Pirates, Vikings, etc...
    I'm not very good at English....

  • @madhushrutimukherjee
    @madhushrutimukherjee 4 роки тому

    We were actually taught an ingenious solution at school. If you mean one person, you write "Bring Bob, DJ and clown", where the additional clause highlights different criteria/professions. However, "Bring Bob, 'a' DJ and 'a' clown" indicates that they are three separate entities, and thus require introductory articles. The focus shifts on the article than the comma. It's present in the Wren and Martin.

  • @lisherrera8303
    @lisherrera8303 7 років тому +3

    En Español, usar una coma antes de la conjunción "y" cuenta como error gramatical. Tampoco es correcto iniciar una oración con ésta.

    • @charjl96
      @charjl96 7 років тому

      Wow, I almost understand that.

  • @Picnicl
    @Picnicl 4 роки тому +1

    Use a dash if using the Oxford comma would confuse those not used to it though. Say ´Bob - a DJ and a clown' if Bob is the DJ and the clown. If you say 'Bob, a DJ and a clown' some will think you mean 2 (Bob being the DJ and someone else being the clown) or 3 people even though, gramatically, you mean one person.

  • @mateoherrera9078
    @mateoherrera9078 7 років тому +4

    That's why in Spanish the comma to separate elements is practically always used (especially before "y" and "además"), most for esthetic purposes, and to difference all the separate elements.

    • @holaliceanos
      @holaliceanos 7 місяців тому

      ¿De qué hablas? Antes de “y” no suele ponerse coma. Compara las frases: “Zapatos, vestidos y todo tipo de prendas” ✅ vs. “Zapatos, vestidos, y todo tipo de prendas”, que no está mal, pero es menos adecuada. Sí se puede usar coma (y se recomienda) en casos como el siguiente: “Había [yo] terminado el trabajo, y cuando fui a entregárselo…”. En este ejemplo no se están listando entidades análogas como en el ejemplo de "Ben, a DJ and a clown". Si no fuera por la coma, el lector podría pensar que se trata de una serie de cosas terminadas, la primera de ellas “el trabajo”. El supuesto lector entendería: “Había terminado el trabajo y [algo más]”. Por supuesto que se daría cuenta de su error enseguida, pero de todos modos, la falta de la coma habría entorpecido la lectura y es algo que puede fácilmente evitarse.

    • @holaliceanos
      @holaliceanos 7 місяців тому

      cuando se enumeran o los listan cosas se debe evitar poner delante de y una coma

  • @darknight92414
    @darknight92414 7 років тому +2

    in Chinese, " 、(顿号)" is used when expressing separate entities. e.g. " my parents 、Emma and Jack" always means three separate individuals.

    • @charjl96
      @charjl96 7 років тому

      That's how it is for everyone except Americans. I wonder why... They really are a "special" bunch

  • @alejandroojeda1572
    @alejandroojeda1572 5 років тому +6

    In Spanish we don't use the Oxford comma, it's a bit starnge to use a comma when you have already a conjunction.

    • @alenkavenx2056
      @alenkavenx2056 4 роки тому

      We use it, just don't call it Oxford comma

  • @PhinPhan39
    @PhinPhan39 2 роки тому

    “Puppies are cute but they don’t make great DJs.”
    Proceeds to draw the ugliest cartoon puppy ever.

  • @tardigrades3184
    @tardigrades3184 8 років тому +8

    I don't even understand why people even use sentences that are structured like the DJ sentence to say that the Oxford comma causes confusion? More problems are caused when you don't use it. The DJ sentence could easily be fixed by saying: Let's get Bob (the DJ) and a puppy. You could also say: Let's get the DJ named Bob and a puppy.

    • @TheCinnamondemon
      @TheCinnamondemon 8 років тому +15

      the dj named bob? lol, thats awkward.

    • @jorban3892
      @jorban3892 5 років тому +1

      or you could say bring a puppy and bob, the DJ

  • @UriahStuff
    @UriahStuff Рік тому +1

    The Oxford comma saves milliliters of ink, millimeters of space, and bytes of data.

  • @lowiigibros
    @lowiigibros 8 років тому +114

    Problems german speaking people dont have.

    • @willful759
      @willful759 8 років тому +22

      nor spanish speaking

    • @cladisla
      @cladisla 8 років тому +27

      I know... but German speakers need to deal with the difference between Akkusativ and Dativ, all three genders and so many other things... I love the language though.

    • @lowiigibros
      @lowiigibros 8 років тому +13

      Cristián Ladisla In all honesty that's what I like about German. It's a very complicated language but if you know how to use Akkusativ, Dativ and Genitiv well, it becomes a beautyful language.

    • @AndrielleHillis
      @AndrielleHillis 8 років тому +11

      Not to mention having 16 different adjective endings and memorizing when to use them.

    • @ok_schlatter
      @ok_schlatter 7 років тому +10

      lowiigibros Being a native English speaker, it kills me not to put commas between adjectives.

  • @arturomillan
    @arturomillan 7 років тому

    The joke in the end was brilliant!