Oxford Comma.

Out of context: Reply #27

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  • drgs0

    If Ayn Rand and God are actually my parents, why would there be a comma after "my parents" to begin with?
    In all European languages, except English, the decoration is then simply:
    This book is dedicated to my parents Ayn Rand and God.

    If Ayn Rand and God are not my parents, you list them as any other items:
    This book is dedicated to my parents, Ayn Rand and God.

    Why is this broken in English? Why do you solve unnecessary commas with more commas? In no other Germanic language has this ever been an issue

    • This book is dedicated to my parents, Ayn Rand, and God.Gnash
    • What would you write if Ayn and God were in fact the names ofyour parents?drgs
    • You can always try Chinese?detritus
    • this: This book is dedicated to my parents, Ayn Rand and God.Gnash
    • Why the comma after parents?drgs
    • ^ because it indicates that what follows the comma belongs to the noun preceding itGnash
    • Howis it not clear without the comma? you dont write "dedicated to my mother, Ayn"drgs
    • English is a fluid mongrel - do what the fuck you like, as long as it makes sense. The Oxford comma does help differentiate though.detritus

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