Finding Your Balance

Ranticle #1: The Oxford Comma

Release Date: 07/28/2021

Description: Who gives a f*#k about the Oxford Comma? Me. I like the sexy little serial punctuation marks. In this shorter-than-usual episode, I deliver my first ranticle and explain why you should be a member of Team Oxford Comma.

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

Intro & The Concept

Release Date: 10/09/2023

Description: Thoughts and motives behind Culture, Comedy and Coding (C3). 

Explicit: No

67. Not a Christmas Special

Release Date: 12/25/2021

Description: Merry Christmas. This next sentence is total word soup: Water of the week is Signature Select Soleil Soleil Mango Passionfruit, Talking Rain + Caffeine Passionfruit, and Bubbl'r Antioxidant Sparkling Water Passion Fruit Wond'r. Not even an Oxford comma can save that one.

Explicit: No

jtyost2 on Huffduffer

Release Date: 01/07/2022

Description: Full-time software engineer, part-time educator, constant student, backpacker and disliker of the Oxford comma.

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

the oxford comma

Release Date: 09/24/2020

Authors: bella & annabelle

Description: in the oxford comma, two teenagers discuss what it’s like to live and go to school in england as americans. it’s full of embarrassing stories, horrible accents and hilarious misconceptions. we hope you enjoy!

Explicit: No

GRAMMURDER: Who Killed Oxford Comma?

Release Date: 04/03/2021

Authors: Victoria Hossler

Description: "GRAMMURDER: Who Killed Oxford Comma?" is a Noir/Mystery-Comedy Podcast, where, every week, the listener will follow the beloved detective, Franklin Higginbottom, and meet various wacky suspects, while he attempts to figure out whodunit. Every suspect, named after puns for different types of punctuation (e.g. Ellip Sees, Cole Awn, Semic Olon, etc.), has their own intriguing, yet suspicious alibi on the eve of Sir Comma's tragic demise. Will Higginbottom solve the case? Find out in "GRAMMURDER: Who Killed Oxford Comma?"

Explicit: No

Reason Bound

Release Date: 09/06/2020

Authors: Ben Zalisko

Description: University of Chicago biochemist, evangelist for science, educator, museum guide, classical liberal, atheist community organizer, Cubs fan, oxford comma enthusiast

Explicit: No

A Show Has No Name

Release Date: 09/23/2020

Authors: A Show Has No Name

Description: A bi-weekly podcast. Topics have included the perfect cup of tea, the best time to shower, biryani (sans potato), why polarized sunglasses aren't always the best option, and the Oxford comma.

Explicit: No

Comedy Coding Theory

Release Date: 09/12/2020

Authors: Edward James Webber

Description: A comedy podcast to help people deal with life's issues through a comedic perspective.

Explicit: No

A Piece of the Action

Release Date: 09/25/2020

Authors: Micah, Eric and Greg

Description: Micah, Eric and Greg give their thoughts and analysis on boardgames, Star Trek trivia, and the use of the Oxford Comma in podcast descriptions. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/m-comer/support

Explicit: No

Shock diffraction by convex cornered wedges

Release Date: 06/30/2021

Description: Xiang, W (University of Oxford)Tuesday 24 June 2014, 10:50-11:20

Explicit: No

Interrogatories with Josh Camson

Release Date: 04/30/2021

Authors: montgomerybar

Description: This is a show by lawyers, about the law, for lawyers and non-lawyers alike. Josh Camson, former comedy writer, tech nerd, and trial lawyer, interviews legal professionals about the practice of law, their interesting stories, their vision for the future of law, and whether they believe in the Oxford comma. Produced by the Montgomery Bar Association in Norristown PA, the show gives listeners a peek behind the bar into the people who make the legal system work.

Explicit: No

Oxford University Mexican Society

Release Date: 05/13/2021

Authors: Oxford University Mexican Society

Description: Official podcast of the Oxford University Mexican Society: stories, mentorship, knowledge, culture.

Explicit: No

Lee Knowles Lectures 2018

Release Date: 03/26/2021

Authors: Cambridge University

Description: Dr Nicholas Rodger FBA (All Souls Oxford) on The Culture of Naval War 1850-1950

Explicit: No