For Clarity, Sometimes the Oxford Comma is Necessary

[Rick Potter]

Let's face it, you can't, can't, use too many, commas that is, no matter you're in Oxford, or not.......same with periods.

[Dan Bundy]

As I read with dismay what's left of the local paper, I wish the editors' (if they have editors) understanding of grammar went deep enough to care about Oxford commas.

Unless it has changed since I earned a degree in journalism back in the early 80s, The Associated Press Style Manual (the bible for print style) said it (Oxford comma) was to be omitted unless it was needed for clarity, such as to prevent folks from showing up at the wrong event, etc. That said, I'm not sure the folks at my local paper have ever taken an English class, much less been instructed on AP Style matters.

Don't get me started on using 12 a.m. and 12 p.m. or saying something is the "first annual."

[Patty Hann]

Unless it has changed since I earned a degree in journalism back in the early 80s, The Associated Press Style Manual (the bible for print style) said it (Oxford comma) was to be omitted unless it was needed for clarity, such as to prevent folks from showing up at the wrong event, etc. That said, I'm not sure the folks at my local paper have ever taken an English class, much less been instructed on AP Style matters.

Don't get me started on using 12 a.m. and 12 p.m. or saying something is the "first annual."

That's easily remedied by using a 24 hour clock.
Not all my clocks can be set to a 24 hour mode (stove and microwave).
Bu any that can be set that way are set that way. Computer, phones, bedside clocks

[Tom M King]

I never answer when someone asks for advise.

[Lee DeRaud]

Commas: they're not just for Oxford anymore:

Lets Eat Bob.jpg

[Cameron Wood]

I'm a fan of the tilde, since I often speak in generalities, or more precisely, approximatalities.

[Patty Hann]

Commas: they're not just for Oxford anymore:

Lets Eat Bob.jpg

Saw something similar years ago, except "Bob" was "Grandma" and the sharks were family members.
(Which makes it a little more disturbing )

[Dan Bundy]

That's easily remedied by using a 24 hour clock.
Not all my clocks can be set to a 24 hour mode (stove and microwave).
Bu any that can be set that way are set that way. Computer, phones, bedside clocks

True. But AP Style advocated against that because not all civilians are familiar with the 24 hour clock. The proper usage was noon and midnight to avoid confusion. The goal was to avoid confusion and aid clarity. As far as the comma not being used unless absolutely necessary, the reason for that, which I forgot above, was to save space since a newspaper column was very limited. There were many such things, such as Vietnam instead of Viet Nam or using postal abbreviations (TN as opposed to Tenn.).

[David Storer]

Seen here on SMC a lot is vice instead of vise.

That one is just a difference between British (vice) and American (vise) nomenclature. What is correct in one place may be an error in another.

[Stan Calow]

True. But AP Style advocated against that because not all civilians are familiar with the 24 hour clock. The proper usage was noon and midnight to avoid confusion.

Which still causes confusion when we use 12 AM or PM since neither is technically correct. 12:01 AM or PM is correct, but 12:00 cant be after itself.

[Bill Howatt]

This is probably similar to 24:00 and 00:00 - for which there is a rule even though they are both the same.

[Michael Weber]

I'm a fan of the tilde, since I often speak in generalities, or more precisely, approximatalities.

LOL. Good one.

[Jerry Bruette]

This is probably similar to 24:00 and 00:00 - for which there is a rule even though they are both the same.

Is there a term for the 60 seconds between 24:00 and 00:01?

[Jim Koepke]

Which still causes confusion when we use 12 AM or PM since neither is technically correct. 12:01 AM or PM is correct, but 12:00 cant be after itself.

At one time one of my coworkers insisted 12 Noon should be 12 AM. Knowing him, he likely missed a job interview because someone told him to be there at 12 PM.

My explanation to him was that since it takes about a second to say 12 PM, it would be 12:00:01 by the time it was said, therefore it would be 12 PM anyway. Plus to make life easy, we have terms like midnight and noon.

jtk

[Bill Dufour]

For clarity teachers learned to make assignments due at 11:59 Pm. or 12:01 AM.

Is zero positive or negative?
Bill D