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5 Reasons I Will Defend The Oxford Comma To My Grave, AP Style Be Damned

I will fight you on this.

Lauren Gherna

Sep 21, 2018

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

3240

YouTube

As a very passionate English major, I have something to say: the elimination of the Oxford comma is not okay. In case you don't know, by definition, the Oxford comma is the last comma in a list, typically right before the conjunction.

I have grown to love this comma, as it provides the clarity many list-oriented sentences need. There is absolutely no reason to eliminate this comma, and I will continue to defend my point of view for these five reasons.

1. List items are equal

If the sentence above were to be spoken in real life, the speaker would be attempting to refer to three different entities. Because the first entity includes two people, it appears that the speaker is specifying the who the people in the first entity are. If there was a comma between "Superman" and "and," the fact that the speaker is talking about three entities would be much

2. Differentiates one item from another

The separation powers of the Oxford comma can be make-or-break in lots of sentences containing lists of tasks. Unclear situations can cause all sorts of problems. Just take a look at this court case.

3. It sounds fancy

If your mind doesn't automatically go to beautiful images of England when you hear the word "Oxford," we need to talk. Oxford is fancy, period end of story.

4. Pleasing to look at

Don't tell me you don't find the Oxford comma aesthetically pleasing. It provides an immense amount of visual organization that is unmatched by any other punctuation.

5. Taught to us in school

I was a teenager when the Oxford comma started to disappear from grammar textbooks. My peers and I had been taught to use this comma for our whole grammar education. Don't you dare try to take it away from me now.

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Recommended for you

5 Reasons I Will Defend The Oxford Comma To My Grave, AP Style Be Damned

I will fight you on this.

1. List items are equal

2. Differentiates one item from another

3. It sounds fancy

4. Pleasing to look at

5. Taught to us in school

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The Best Lines from the Fab Four

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you'll love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you. I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy me love

All you need is love, love is all you need

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

Obviously the best superpower.

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

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