Coffee and a Conversation

As Told Over Brunch is a home for intelligent discourse from the twenty-something perspective - so the stuff you gossip about over mimosas on Sunday morning or over takeout on your friend's couch when happy hour ends too early. We love chatting about our lives, whether it be the relationships we’re building (or destroying), lessons we've learned at work, struggles at school, growing pains we've felt, or even the food we’re talking over.

I Hate the Oxford Comma: Why You Don't Need the Oxford Comma

May 24, 2017 by Sara Woznicki in Life In Your 20's, life lessons, Young Professionalism, Social Media, Work, Tweets and Mascara, Sara's Column, Leisure

There are very few things that irrationally bother me. Like when people put their drinks next to a coaster and not on it. Or when I have to print a page and there's 1 sentence or less on the last page. And when people argue with me over needing the Oxford comma. Get over it, you don't need it, nor do I want to debate it with you.

Why You Don't Need the Oxford Comma

The first reason why you don't need the Oxford comma is a basic one: AP Style tells you not to use the Oxford comma. The premiere grammar ruling for journalists says we don't need the Oxford comma. The New York Times and other premiere media outlets don't use Oxford commas. It's time to give up the ghost.

Comma-plaint

February 16, 2015 by Cazey Williams in Cazey's Column, life lessons

Hello, readers.

Did you notice that comma? The one right after hello? I know, it must be a typo.

WELL, IT'S NOT.

I hate to sound preachy (~choir hums~), but somewhere, somehow, society has run amok. I know this isn't a surprise to everyone, but I don't mean morally, politically, fiscally, or religiously. I mean grammatically. We have forgotten how to write.

You see, my attentive pupils, a comma is supposed to separate a greeting and a name. It is, "Hello, Stephanie, how are you?" It is NOT, "Hello Stephanie, how are you?" You (should!!!!!) address your emails, "Hi, Bill," not "Hi Bill."