[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:07.74,0:00:09.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Say you're helping plan a friend's party,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:09.62,0:00:11.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he sends you a text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:11.16,0:00:14.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,asking you to "bring Bob, a DJ and a clown."
Dialogue: 0,0:00:14.08,0:00:15.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You're pretty impressed.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:15.30,0:00:17.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You had no idea Bob was so multitalented.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.75,0:00:19.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But when the day arrives,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:19.33,0:00:21.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it turns out that he's not,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:21.08,0:00:24.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you were supposed to bring three different people.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.80,0:00:27.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As you and Bob sit at the silent, clownless party,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:27.08,0:00:30.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it occurs to you that the confusion could've been avoided
Dialogue: 0,0:00:30.00,0:00:34.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,simply by using another comma after DJ.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.02,0:00:35.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This final comma in a list,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:35.94,0:00:38.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,placed directly before the main conjunction,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:38.23,0:00:41.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,such as and, or, or nor,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:41.17,0:00:42.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is called the serial comma,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:42.99,0:00:44.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or Oxford comma.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.62,0:00:47.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it has long driven grammar nerds crazy
Dialogue: 0,0:00:47.20,0:00:49.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because even major language institutions
Dialogue: 0,0:00:49.20,0:00:51.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can't agree on whether it should be used.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:51.75,0:00:53.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ironically, the Oxford comma
Dialogue: 0,0:00:53.21,0:00:54.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is more common in the United States,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:54.92,0:00:56.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where it's recommended by
Dialogue: 0,0:00:56.25,0:00:58.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the MLA, the Chicago Style Manual,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:58.17,0:01:00.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the US Government Printing Office,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:00.17,0:01:02.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,though not by the AP Style Book.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:02.83,0:01:05.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In the UK and other English-speaking countries,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:05.25,0:01:07.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,most style guides do not support the comma's use,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:07.50,0:01:09.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with the exception of its namesake,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:09.17,0:01:11.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Oxford University Press.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.50,0:01:13.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why not use the serial comma?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:13.64,0:01:15.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One of the main arguments
Dialogue: 0,0:01:15.02,0:01:16.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that the conjunction is usually enough
Dialogue: 0,0:01:16.92,0:01:18.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to denote a separate entity.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.56,0:01:19.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And where it's not,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:19.83,0:01:21.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like in your ill-fated invite list,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:21.44,0:01:24.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,changing the order of terms will usually do the job.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:24.92,0:01:26.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Journalists also dislike the comma
Dialogue: 0,0:01:26.74,0:01:28.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because it takes up precious space
Dialogue: 0,0:01:28.28,0:01:30.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and can make text look cluttered.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:30.25,0:01:32.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sometimes, it can even create confusion of its own.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:32.83,0:01:34.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For example,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:34.25,0:01:35.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if your friend had asked for "Bob,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:35.87,0:01:37.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a DJ and a puppy,"
Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.42,0:01:38.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you'd probably figure out
Dialogue: 0,0:01:38.58,0:01:40.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that they're three separate beings.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:40.30,0:01:41.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Puppies are cute,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:41.33,0:01:42.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but they don't make great DJs.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:42.88,0:01:44.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,With the comma,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:44.17,0:01:45.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you may think
Dialogue: 0,0:01:45.08,0:01:46.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Bob is the DJ,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:46.25,0:01:48.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and all you need is him and the puppy.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:48.39,0:01:50.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The argument over the Oxford comma
Dialogue: 0,0:01:50.50,0:01:52.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has raised such strong passions over the years
Dialogue: 0,0:01:52.100,0:01:56.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that a sort of truce has been reached.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:56.41,0:01:57.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The common wisdom is that
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.81,0:01:58.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,its use is optional,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:58.98,0:02:00.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and depends on whether it will help
Dialogue: 0,0:02:00.44,0:02:02.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to avoid confusion.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:02.00,0:02:03.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For one thing,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:03.61,0:02:05.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you're supposed to keep your use or avoidance
Dialogue: 0,0:02:05.65,0:02:07.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the Oxford comma
Dialogue: 0,0:02:07.03,0:02:09.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,consistent throughout a whole piece of writing.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:09.28,0:02:10.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, using it only where necessary
Dialogue: 0,0:02:10.95,0:02:12.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is not an option.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:12.62,0:02:13.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the very idea
Dialogue: 0,0:02:13.70,0:02:15.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of a grammatical rule being optional
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.70,0:02:17.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is a bit odd.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.25,0:02:19.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Imagine that you hadn't messed up the party planning,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:19.50,0:02:21.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and read the next day that "everyone had a great time -
Dialogue: 0,0:02:21.92,0:02:24.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,ninjas, pirates, vikings, old and young."
Dialogue: 0,0:02:24.46,0:02:26.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If the Oxford comma were standard,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:26.67,0:02:28.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you would notice it missing
Dialogue: 0,0:02:28.08,0:02:29.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and conclude that old and young
Dialogue: 0,0:02:29.67,0:02:33.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,must describe the awesome guests already listed.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:33.17,0:02:34.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But as things stand,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:34.17,0:02:35.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you will always wonder
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.25,0:02:36.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whether it means
Dialogue: 0,0:02:36.33,0:02:38.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that a bunch of regular, boring kids and old people
Dialogue: 0,0:02:38.54,0:02:40.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,showed up as well.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.06,0:02:43.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ultimately, the serial comma may be useful or annoying,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:43.65,0:02:44.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but your opinion on it,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:44.93,0:02:46.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as for many optional things,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:46.38,0:02:47.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,probably has something to do
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.50,0:02:50.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with whichever style you were raised on.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:50.68,0:02:52.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Your high school teachers favored it?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:52.63,0:02:54.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's likely you're still using it.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:54.12,0:02:55.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Your first editor hated it?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.96,0:02:57.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You probably do, too.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.46,0:02:59.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And maybe so much hairsplitting
Dialogue: 0,0:02:59.21,0:03:01.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,over a tiny squiggle on a page
Dialogue: 0,0:03:01.04,0:03:02.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is a bit silly.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.42,0:03:03.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,After all,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:03.38,0:03:04.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there are so many bigger problems
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.80,0:03:05.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to worry about.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:05.75,0:03:08.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But sometimes, little things can make a big difference.