General Chat

So......the debate is live again.

As far as I can remember I was taught that no comma was required following a coordinating conjunction.

The 50p Brexit coin doesn't have one but some people are up in arms saying it is grammatically incorrect.

Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations - this is the one to be circulated

If a comma is added

Peace, prosperity, and friendship with all nations - the one academics favour

The second version just doesn't look right to me.

Perhaps I'm just old

:-(

Sue

I'm old with you then Sue.

I was taught by an Oxford Don never to put a comma before and.
So I don't.

I was also taught by a Cambridge educated tutor ( and several others) not to put a comma before and. I don't always remember not to do so though. I do try and remove them if and when I proof read.

I was told by one of my primary school teachers not to put a comma before 'and'.
So I don't. :-D
I mean, surely this is something taught in primary school!

To me, an Oxford comma is when you say something like:
"She went to the shops, then, (Oxford comma) she went home".
It's a comma that isn't necessarily needed, but isn't out of place if used.

However, in 'legal talk', it could be important:
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/02/09/us/dairy-drivers-oxford-comma-case-settlement-trnd/index.html

:-D :-D :-D

I agree, no comma after and, but I am old :-(

Another oldie who agrees with Sue.

Kath. x

I agree that it looks and feels wrong to have the comma before “and”. However, I was taught that there should be no comma before “and” UNLESS it is needed to clarify the meaning. I think that is why various people have said the comma should be there.

We all know what it means but grammatically it is saying

Peace
Prosperity with all nations
Friendship with all nations

Are we really saying prosperity with all nations? That’s why I think good grammar means it does need the Oxford comma. Still looks wrong though :-D

Pleased this oldie is not alone, thank you :-D

I'm with you Sue
I was taught to use the first! :-D

I agree with you all. No commas before any conjunction - and, but etc.

There was a period of about 20 years when no punctuation or grammar was taught in many schools. It apparently interfered with children's imagination!!

I remember reading somewhere that if you weren't sure where to put a comma, then only put them where you have to take a breath.

Welcome two more members to the oldies club :-D

Make that 3 :-D :-D :-D

:-D :-D :-D

The second version looks wrong to me too (,) although I know it's not.

In the same way, I was always taught to use z instead of s in words such as recognize. I gave up in the end when, in my last job, one of the hierarchy always questionned/questioned it.

This spellchecker always alters it now and I leave it alone as everyone understands it anyway ..... and I don't really care as long as I can be understood. :-S

This oldie was taught to use the Oxford comma, but only to separate the last item in a list :-S

One that got residents of a small town site near here equally divided and vocal centred around a welcome sign to the town which read 'Welcome to Dardanup, an Historic Town'

50% said that the wording should be a Historic Town, the other 50% said that the wording on the sign was absolutely correct :-D :-D

Allan, I'm confused when I say I was a (an) LSA.
Learning, has 'L' (consonant)as it's first letter, but the letter 'L' on it's own has a vowel sound.

JoyLouise, I detest the Americanisation of words (the 'z' instead of an 's').
When I use my PC, I'm in charge - and even then, it has 'Americanisation' as the wrong spelling.
:-|

That is what annoys me when many Australians pronounce the letter H as haitch.

'Welcome to Dardanup, an Historic Town"

Both constructions offered are wrong as they do not parse into a sentence.

"Welcome to the Historic Town of Dardanup" also does away with the comma problem.