Grammar — a 'dating deal breaker' — celebrates its own day; Oxford comma still debated

Wednesday is National Grammar Day, a time to celebrate good writing, strong syntax and proper punctuation.

Grammar nerds likely cringed at that last sentence. It all depends on your feelings about the Oxford comma — which comes before the last item in a list, such as after “trains” in the phrase “planes, trains, and automobiles.”

Its use has been the subject of endless debate. Some see the Oxford, or serial, comma as unnecessarily fussy, while others treat its omission as an unforgivable crime against language.

Learn when to use the Oxford comma (or serial comma) with Grammar Rules from the Writer’s Digest editors, including a few examples of correct usages. https://t.co/hO2DDimUeP

— Writer's Digest (@WritersDigest) March 3, 2020

You won’t see it much on TribLIVE.com. The Associated Press Stylebook, which sets the writing guidelines followed by most American news outlets, says it is unnecessary in most cases.

The AP, however, isn’t the country’s only authority on punctuation.

The Modern Language Association and American Psychological Association, which create style guides used for most academic writing, favor the Oxford comma. So, too, does “The Elements of Style” — the famous writing guide by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White in force since 1959.

The debate is unlikely to end anytime soon.

A recent survey of 1,700 high school students conducted by homework help website Brainly found that 66% of respondents prefer to write using the Oxford comma.

The survey also asked students about their biggest grammar pet peeves. The misuse of “there,” “their” and “they’re” (note the missing Oxford comma) topped the list. Those who confuse “your” with “you’re” and “its” with “it’s” also annoyed respondents, 53% of whom said bad grammar is a “dating deal breaker,” according to Brainly.

National Grammar Day was created in 2008 by Martha Brockenbrough, author of “Things That Make Us [sic]” and founder of the Society for the Promotion of Good Grammar.

A day devoted to grammar hasn’t brought the Oxford comma debate any closer to resolution. Perhaps punctuation enthusiasts will forever argue about whether its use is right, wrong or just a matter of choice.