The Oxford comma's unlikely origin

The Oxford comma is a grammar geek's obsession, and it turns out to have an unusual history behind it. The mark got its start thanks to the advocacy of Herbert Spencer, a scientist/philosopher/generalist who believed it was more efficient and clear. He also came up with the term survival of the fittest. This is how it happened...

[McRaylie]

The oxford comma is the difference between going to a party with the strippers, Stalin, and Lenin, and going to a party with the strippers, Stalin and Lenin.

[JackChatelle]

For me, two items in a list don't get it. Anything 3 and longer does get it though

[AngryKittens]

People who don't use Oxford commas tend to also be the people who say things like "an historical" or "exetera." Research also shows they kick puppies more.

[matthewprice]

Kind of embarrassed about how quickly I clicked on a video about punctuation

[VulcanTrekkie]

I remember being taught back in the first or second grade that the Oxford comma was the only right way to end a list. I don't think I came across this debate until I was at least in college.

[billsy]

My parents, Barack Obama and Michelle Obama don't use it so why should I?

[mthmchris]

"Just ask Vox's copy editors - Rob Lowe and James Vanderbeek"

God bless the dash...

[cineoitoum]

I am from Brazil, here, we use comma a lot. The rule is: In the end you use the comma after the word "and", but there´s no use of comma after "AND", because and is also a separator. You can use comma in a sentence like this: He likes potatoe, bread, tomatoes AND (no comma here) naked woman.

[GentlemanNietzsche]

born an oxford comma, die an oxford comma

#MakeGrammarGreatAgain

[AlinaLynn]

I'm sure others have pointed this out, but the examples that you corrected at the beginning and the end were not contextually correct Oxford commas. Those were just superfluous. Oxford commas are only used when the items are in the same list, not when the first item is a clarifier for two others. For instance, the sentence "I met the ballerinas, Obama and Putin" implies that Obama and Putin are ballerinas. If they are ballerinas, this is correct. However, saying "I met the ballerinas, Obama, and Putin" establishes the ballerinas as a separate entity from Obama and Putin. Likewise, the addition of an extra comma to form "copy editors, Rob Lowe, and James Van Der Beek" erroneously suggests that the copy editors are a separate entity from these two individuals.I'm a tad disappointed as the clarification between these ambiguous structures is perhaps the most important use of the Oxford comma.

[romcarlos]

I saw this was about the Oxford comma, and just had to watch it immediately.

[MrKillamanjaro]

Hey Vox, how come you guys aren't on the Snapchat explore section anymore? Your snap stories were the only ones I looked forward to :(

[thewoodenbowl]

I thought it was going to be about different comma _designs_...

[alulamulaa]

I can't believe ya'll didn't seize the opportunity to use Vampire weekend's Oxford Comma.

[TheHelvetican]

my high school English teacher owes me back at least one letter grade for all the points she took off for my use of this fine little comma

[pederchristopher]

It comes majorly in handy when one (or all) the items you are listing are composite. ''So we went out and had steaks, sausage and onions, pasta, and green and yellow salad.'' As stated... it signals pauses and visually divides the items you are putting forth. I like it!

[diamondsharry]

"who gives a f*ck about an Oxford comma" shout out to vampire weekend

[gregbard]

A comma has a pause at the end of its clause, whereas a kitten has claws at the ends of its paws.

[saldanha_]

in brazilian portuguese, the comma is essential for the understanding of the language

[danieldavidmccabe]

I'm pretty sure Michael Rosen just had a doc about this on BBC radio 4. The show is called Word of mouth. If I remember correctly they trace punctuation back to the Greeks and verticals marks they placed on text to indicate a break. This was associated with Paragraphos which is where we get the word paragraph. I'll have to relisten to the show again but I think they discuss the comma.