A bunch of Apostrophe's

[Randman]

If written correctly, the Oxford comma is never needed. If a sentence has a possibility of being less than crystal clear, it should be rewritten. Yes, I'm a grammar and spelling Nazi myself, though I do confess to a lapse here and there.

[CaptainQuark]

Oh I do like to discuss such delicate issues with a person who obviously DOES have a clue about that of which he speaks!

As a designer, typesetter and copy editor of books, I have this argument fairly often with authors who, while experts in their own particular fields, are often only semi-literate. It is unfortunate, though, that I am trying to piece together a valid argument against such an abomination at the end (for us UK types – I notice that the former colonials across the pond are waking up, though) of a long and tiring day of dispensing invaluable advice to my Mac-using colleagues on this eminent forum, as I am struggling even to remember my own name, and can't think of the perfect, killer argument to put my point indisputably across.

(Bung a couple of Oxford Commas into THAT lot and see if it makes sense!)

I'm glad to see that you have not, at least, split the infinitive – or am I just tempting fate?

[CaptainQuark]

Ooops! A quick glance at your profile after having posted my most recent outburst, tells me that I may have offended you – an 'author/illustrator' – by calling authors illiterate. No offence intended.

[Randman]

I not stupid.

But I do find it ironic that apostrophe was capitalized (or capitalised for you non-zee/zed fans out there) in the title of this thread complaining about poor grammar.

My thinking is if you can leave something out, be it a comma, other punctuation of even an extra word (such as "that") without sacrificing the meaning, you should do so. Brevity and conciseness of thought without all of the "extra-strength, free and complimentary, new and improved, silly and redundant" verbosity that makes up too much of the damn language these days (daze?).

[Gerard McLean]

Originally Posted by CaptainQuark

I once made the mistake of reading that book in a café. I was asked to leave by a waiter who said that my laughing out loud was disturbing the other patrons!

You were probably pausing inappropriately long between laughs. Or perhaps you paused just before the last laugh of the chapter, making that laugh an Oxford laugh. You should perhaps re-order your laughing and pausing as to make your laughing meaning crystal clear.

I find it amusing that nothing quite sparks up a discussion board like the use or misuse of the English language.

[bobw]

crap,, now ah have t'git a dickshunary t'see whut all these trimenjus wo'ds mean, as enny fool kin plainly see

[brianleahy]

I was asked to leave by a waiter who said that my laughing out loud was disturbing the other patrons!

Similar story:

Some years back when I was in college, I took a summer job doing data-entry at a clinic. The lunch room at the clinic had a book-lending shelf; people brought in paperbacks and left them there for others to read at their leisure. So one day while eating my brown-bag lunch, I picked up "Side Effects" by Woody Allen and began to read.

Several times I nearly laughed my ham-and-cheese out through my nose. I tried to keep my laughter down, but it was very difficult. I did finally attract some attention and was questioned about who I was and what I was reading. As a temp, they didn't immediately recognize me.


In fact, as I recall it was a mental-health clinic.....

[ScottW]

you'll know'hat, i Don't understand's whatch'a talk'in about! I go college,