A special message for Rick
Here's a link for you, dollface.
The all-seeing, all-knowing Wikipedia Brain states that usage of the "serial comma" is OPTIONAL and a matter of PREFERENCE.
So nyah nyah nyah!
The all-seeing, all-knowing Wikipedia Brain states that usage of the "serial comma" is OPTIONAL and a matter of PREFERENCE.
So nyah nyah nyah!
4 Comments:
He's got this problem with people who use the AP Style Guide to steer their punctuation preferences. He thinks it's stupid. But the serial comma is also referred to as the "Oxford Comma" because its use is championed by the Oxford University Press. So I don't see how going by the AP Style Guide is any more stupid than going by the Oxford University Press. The serial comma is also known as the "Harvard Comma" -- further proof that using it shows blind devotion to fat, old, white guys in ugly tweed jackets with elbow patches. Face it ... the serial comma is the man's way of keeping us down.
As another writer who makes a career out of it, I always think people look ignorant for not using Oxford Commas. But I'll look past those that don't since it's a preference.
But FAR WORSE are people who don't put the damn commas and periods INSIDE the quotation marks. It's one of the only rules of the English language that there aren't any exceptions to. "No matter if the whole sentence is quoting someone." And no matter if you're just putting quotes around the last "word." ALWAYS. "Yes," he said. "Always."
Sorry, it's a pet peeve.
Within AND after?? That's nutty!
See, what Rick doesn't understand is that the English language is -- as you said -- deeply stupid and there is no such thing as a "definitive source" when it comes to our doo-doo poopoo head language.
The important thing to be understood. Even if you must use questionable syntax. The proper use of commas will always be up for debate. Which means (except with legal papers) screw them if they can't take a joke. Read the bit of copy out loud and if it sounds right that's the best anyone can do. The more important unstated fact in this thread is that The Nerdy Girl needs to smoke stronger (Dunhills or Camel Straights) cigarettes so when debating Rick the second hand smoke will confuse and impair him while you become more focused and insulated from manic retorts. This will put Rick where he is supposed to be, in the corner of your office agreeing with you to do everything the right way.
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