The Oxford Comma Is Dead. Long Live The Oxford Comma

[namasteyoga]

OK, so Twitter rumors of the Oxford comma's death may be premature but I thought I use it as an excuse to open a discussion on grammar, punctuation and other pedantic issues

Comments

[freddie_mac]

Here's another vote for "the darn errors kick me out of the fic". An occasional grammatical error here & there isn't a problem, but if the first two paragraphs are riddled with them? That's why we have the back button. Other things that will kill a fic for me? Characters that are OOC without an explanation (i.e., a short-tempered & nasty Wilson or lovey-dovey House, take-charge Chase, wishy-washy Foreman) and contextual errors

[freddie_mac]

Just to clarify ... Chase *can* (and would be expected to) have a flat or a mobile (meaning phone or apartment)

[freddie_mac]

I blame most of my thoughts about contextual errors on the years spent immersed in Harry Potter fic, where there was a concerted effort (on many fronts) to ensure that Harry et al. sounded like Brits and not California surfer dudes or Valley girls.

I understand that writing fic is a hobby, and respect the people who make a good faith effort to maintain the tone of the original source material. I freely admit that I've gotten pickier over the years -- people who make a good faith effort are the ones that I'll take the time to read/comment; those who don't, I ignore and we're all much happier that way.

[yarroway]

I'm with everyone else about the errors. A few here and there don't bother me. I know I mess up too. More glaring mistakes, like 'coach' in place of 'couch' can be a little jarring. Apostrophe abuse bothers me, too (its/it's aside). I don't mind things like flats and lifts because it's generally clear what the meaning is and I enjoy learning the new terms.

Issues of logic and characterization bother me far more.

[topaz_eyes]

I'm glad to hear the rumors are premature, otherwise: Goodbye, Oxford comma? Hello, Shatner comma!

XD