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As an author I laugh whenever I hear about the big debate over the Oxford comma. It's the literary equivalent to the big curly brace on the same vs next line. H
by joeax 9y ago
As an author I laugh whenever I hear about the big debate over the Oxford comma. It's the literary equivalent to the big curly brace on the same vs next line. However, in this instance, as well as certain code scenarios in JavaScript, structuring it one way or another can affect the semantics.
Like code, disambiguating my text is why I generally favor using the Oxford comma in my writing. Not using it is the equivalent to not using parenthesis in a complex logical expression, and defaulting to known order of operations.
Say you want to express:
Jane and Tom, Bill and Wendy, or Susie and Frank.
In code you would be unambiguous with:
(Jane && Tom) || (Bill && Wendy) || (Susie && Frank)
So why omit the Oxford comma when it is necessary to disambiguate? It would have saved both parties, as well as the state of Maine a lot of time, money, and headache.
- fshaun 9y agoI agree re: favoring Oxford comma, but I don't think this reasoning supports it. Jane && Tom || Bill && Wendy || Susie && Frank is unambiguous in e.g. C++, as the language specifies operator precedence. The inclusion of parentheses is a question of style, not correctness. OTOH, omitting commas can rely on context and subjective reasoning.
- pierrefar 9y agoSpeaking of commas, you're missing one after the end of the interrupting phrase in your last sentence (should say ", as well as the state of Maine,"). It's a pet peeve bigger than the lack of Oxford commas, and definitely affects readability and may affect meaning.
- joeax 9y agoHa ha thank you.