Drinking and business don’t mix.

Ep 97: How a Simple Comma Can Save a Life

Release Date: 04/18/2017

Description: Now that we’re down to later-order concerns, examining our work at the detail level, I thought we might talk some more about punctuation. We’ve already covered the serial comma, also known as the Oxford comma. Let's cover yet another comma: the direct address comma. The direct address comma will be review for many readers, but it’s a fun one to offer as a refresher. Friends, we cannot neglect this comma or leave it out of our stable of punctuation. With it, we save lives. Without it, the unthinkable can happen. What do you mean, Ann? This comma offers clarity in its own way. And you can lock in its purpose is with the now infamous phrase: “Let’s eat, Grandpa.” The comma after the word “eat” is the direct address comma. With the comma, I’m directly addressing Grandpa, issuing an invitation for Grandpa to join us for dinner. Without the comma, Grandpa is dinner. Some people have been advised to read their work aloud and wherever they pause is a good place to add a comma. This helps a little, but sometimes we don’t pause when we say things. I don’t think I’d naturally pause when calling out to Grandpa to let him know the table is set. I think I’d just say it quickly and my ear would tell me no comma is necessary: “Let’s eat Grandpa!” In print, though, it is needed. Obviously, we will get context clues. The sentences preceding and following that sentence will help us understand that this is not a story about cannibalism. But to avoid giggles and possible confusion—or horror—it’s best to include the direct address comma whenever and wherever it’s needed. A quick review: If the name of the person you’re addressing launches the sentence, the comma follows the name: Nancy, bring your computer tonight so we can work on our book together. When the name falls in the middle of the sentence, surround the name with commas: If you insist on writing that memoir, Sam, at least change my name and hair color. And if the name falls at the end of the sentence, you need one comma preceding it: I would love to write a review on iTunes for you, Ann. Just joking! Although if you have time, I really would love your positive review on iTunes so others can find this podcast. How about this example, instead: I hope your book launch is a huge success, Deidra. So, friends, that’s a quick reminder of how the direct address comma can avoid the unthinkable. Use it—you might just save a life. To listen to the full episode, click on the podcast player above or use subscription options below. Resources: Ep 94: Grammar Matters: Why Concern Ourselves with Commas? Ep 96: When You Really Need Next-Level Edits (next-level edits, lower-order concerns) How to Write a Review in iTunes Higher-Order Concerns (HOCs) and Lower-Order Concerns (HOCs) (Purdue Online Writing Lab - OWL) All podcast episodes * * * You can subscribe with iTunes, where I'd love to have you subscribe, rate, and leave a review. The podcast is also available Stitcher, and you should be able to search for and find "Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach" in any podcast player.

Explicit: No

Comma

Release Date: 05/04/2021

Description: किसी फिल्म का डायलॉग है "मोहब्बत की नहीं जाती हजूर हो जाती है"। सही कहा था नहीं?

Explicit: No

Ep 94: Grammar Matters: Why Concern Ourselves with Commas?

Release Date: 03/28/2017

Description: If you’re new to writing, you may be unaware of the fierce debate among writers, editors, teachers, and grammarians over the use of the serial, or Oxford, comma. If you’ve been around the world of words a while, you know the tension, the arguments, the passion associated with this tiny punctuation mark used—or not used—in the specific scenario of a series. The Oxford Comma The serial comma, also known as the Oxford comma, is the last comma you’d use in a list that includes three or more words or phrases and a coordinating conjunction. The comma would be placed just before the final “or” or “and.” For example, if I said, “I love articles, essays, poems, and podcasts,” a serial comma would be the comma you’d place just after “poems” and before the word “and.” It's often referred to as the Oxford comma because, as Oxford Dictionaries explains, "it was traditionally used by printers, readers, and editors at Oxford University Press.” The AP Stylebook vs. The Chicago Manual of Style Style guides tend to fall into two camps on the use of the Oxford comma. The Chicago Manual of Style, for example, often used by book publishers, “strongly recommends” its use in every series—use it by default, they urge, because it prevents ambiguity. The Associated Press Stylebook, usually referred to as the AP Stylebook, is used by many newspapers and magazines. This style guide prefers using the serial comma only when clarity is needed. Otherwise, leave it out by default. It’s a space-saving measure, for one thing, and leaves the page one stroke cleaner and less cluttered. Both philosophies agree that the use of the comma achieves the goal of avoiding ambiguity. The difference is that The Chicago Manual of Style argues that using it by default will avoid an oversight. So if you or the place you write for says to use the serial comma all the time—even if the sentence would make sense without it—you or the place you write for falls in the “Oxford comma” camp. How Can a Missing Comma Cause Confusion? What kind of ambiguity or confusion could be caused by leaving out one little bitty comma? Mental Floss offers up several examples of confusion caused by leaving out that key comma. One is a book dedication that may have been invented. It reads: “To my parents, Ayn Rand and God.” It’s missing the serial comma that The Chicago Manual of Style would urge adding directly after Ayn Rand. With the Oxford comma missing, the dedication implies that this person comes from an implausible but unforgettable lineage—that his or her parents are Ayn Rand and God. You can poke around online and find numerous examples of how the Oxford comma helps avoid combinations that would lead to confusion or at least bizarre images. And, as I said, the AP Stylebook would agree to include it to avoid confusion. In that respect, we’re all on the same page. But it’s worth our time to consider the implication of leaving it out when it really ought to have been included. A week or so ago, a United States Court of Appeals handed down a ruling that hinged upon a missing comma. Maine’s overtime statutes include a list that leaves out the serial comma so that you could read it two different ways: one interpretation would combine two actions to be one, and another interpretation would separate them to be two different activities. Including the comma would have cleared things up. A dairy in Maine interpreted the meaning of the phrase one way, and its drivers interpreted it another way in a case involving overtime pay. And with that, we all saw that serial commas are serious business. Smithsonian Magazine provides a brief explanation of the case and quotes Judge David J. Barron: “For want of a comma, we have this case.” Small Stuff Matters No matter where you fall on this usage philosophy, I hope you agree we must at some point and to some degree concern ourselves with commas. Don’t let confusion or fear of comma placement keep you from churning out your fir...

Explicit: No

Jesus Stopped at a Comma

Release Date: 03/31/2021

Description: Did you know that when Jesus read a passage of Isaiah during a synagogue service He stopped his reading at a comma?https://www.lcgeducation.org/digging-deeper-jesus-stopped-at-a-comma/

Explicit: No

Fala, Hackers!

Release Date: 01/29/2021

Authors: Casa Hacker

Description: Podcast by Casa Hacker

Explicit: No

HackWise

Release Date: 03/28/2021

Authors: hackwise | Cultura Hacker

Description: Podcast by hackwise | Cultura Hacker

Explicit: No

AuthorSpeak

Release Date: 08/17/2020

Authors: Amy Roost

Description: Authors talk about their books, lives, craft, and the serial comma.

Explicit: No

Arsus

Release Date: 04/01/2021

Authors: Carlos Eduardo Sanchez Torres

Description: Podcast about computer science and hacker projects.

Explicit: No

My Podcast Weblog

Release Date: 12/14/2021

Authors: Ryan Bruckman/Craig Hanks

Description: Stickwars Podcast talks about any and all things geek/nerd, current events and use of the oxford comma.

Explicit: No

HACKER CATTIVI

Release Date: 04/28/2021

Authors: Luke Bazz

Description: Ciao, in questo podcast ti guidero nella mente di un hacker cattivo o meglio conosciuto come BLACK HAT. ATTENZIONE!!! non tutti gli hacker sono cattivi e quelli di cui tratto nel mio podcast sono semplicemente criminali digitali che non rispecchiano le ideologie del manifesto hacker

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Hacker News

Release Date: 04/03/2021

Authors: Axel Riggs

Description: Hacker news

Explicit: No

Rei Pocket's show

Release Date: 03/28/2021

Authors: Rei Pocket

Description: hacker mapa

Explicit: No

Articles – Profiler Training | Become A Personality Profiler

Release Date: 03/25/2021

Description: By Personality Hacker

Explicit: No

ComCast (Comma Podcast)

Release Date: 09/05/2020

Authors: Comma Design

Description: Podcast yang dibuat oleh anggota Comma Design, sebuah komunitas yang bergerak di bidang desain grafis."Design is what you want to express yourself"

Explicit: No

Blog de Agencia comma

Release Date: 03/24/2021

Authors: agencia comma

Description: En este programa encontrarás algunos audios de entrevistas realizadas por Agencia comma para el blog

Explicit: No