VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

roger · Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 2:02 pm Post subject: Why I still use the Oxford comma

Here's why
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jasbart · Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 2:23 pm Post subject:

And to think I almost didn't follow that link! Thanks Roger, I was raised back in the day when we used the Oxford comma (though we never called it that). Sometime later in life it became correct to leave it off. I still use it, and add it to scripts if it's not there. It's really handy in voice work when you're reading lists.

Jim
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Bruce · Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 2:44 pm Post subject:

I use commas every time I think they're needed, whether it's grammatically proper or not... and when writing copy I use them even more. They're a lovely, useful tool.

B
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Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

I am so sick of asking the client "Is it meant to be 'our values, and Programming and Networking Solutions.' or is it 'our values, programming, and networking solutions.' ?" And they're like 'Oh, yeah...I see how that could be confusing...'

The Oxford Comma is correct. Period. Accept no substitutes.
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Jason Huggins · Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 7:42 pm Post subject:

I'm with Lance. I'm forever having to stop and second guess my understanding of the copy. But maybe that is just my own dysfunction Smile

FinMac · Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2013 4:10 am Post subject: Commas can save lives!

The improper use of the comma can be dangerous. At least according to Lynne Truss. She wrote a great book called, "Eats, shoots & Leaves".

Here is a link for those who don't have time to read the book...

http://youtu.be/eaaCKqddcJs

Mac
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Mike Harrison · Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2013 5:35 am Post subject:

What Lance and Bruce both said. For my own use (editing/formatting scripts to my liking), I use commas like they were choclolate chips: you can never have too many.

If a client has gone crazy with run-on sentences (and commas), I'll use slashes to indicate where to inhale or pause.

It seems some clients' writers aren't sure how to use commas, either: I think we've all received scripts over-adorned with ellipses (...) which, by the way, (proper comma usage) if you bill based on word count and scripts you receive are riddled with pairs of words that are joined by ellipses with no space between (like...this), those word pairs will count as a single word. Wink

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Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

If one writes clear and brief sentences extra punctuation is not needed.

Corporate speak:

When we present our specific sentences, in our unique and maximized way...commas semi-colons and colons - even dashes - are of need to the writer of these specific sentences.
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Mike Harrison · Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2013 10:27 am Post subject:

ccpetersen · Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2013 1:44 pm Post subject:

I do SO love a good bout of amphigory!
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Diane Maggipinto · Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2013 8:53 am Post subject:

i'm all for the oxford comma, though i remember learning in high school that it is optional, and that the 'and' between the last 2 choices serves as a substitute. but yes, for copy, bring on the commas.

i also adore the grocer's apostrophe. read about it here

or read my example: CONDO'S AVAILABLE (the sign i saw yesterday ... the same one from a couple of years ago. or is that year's?)
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Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

Heh on Grocer's apostrophe's!

Couldn't CONDO'S have an apostrophe standing in for the missing letters of CONDOMINIUMS? Although, I know nobody is being that clever when they use it that way. Smile

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ccpetersen · Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2013 3:43 pm Post subject:

Possessive vegetables.

Hmmm... never thought about that.

Should I worry if my celery stalks are starting to eye me with suspicion that I"m leaving them alone with the potatoes? Or is that Potato's?
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Diane Maggipinto · Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2013 10:15 am Post subject:

it's the potato's that have eyes .....................
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roger · Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2013 10:57 am Post subject:

response to Diane's post
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Roger Tremaine
www.MyFavoriteVoice.com
http://rogertremaine.voices.com/
No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. AESOP (The Lion and the Mouse)