Confusing automated translators.

[Harvey Thomas]

Tim Roberts wrote
> Jack Diederich <jack at performancedrivers.com> wrote:
> >
> >My favorite example is comifying a list.
> >"1, 2, and 3" vs "1, 2 and 3" (journalist seem to prefer the later)
> >
> >"I dedicate this book to my parents, Jane, and God."
> >"I dedicate this book to my parents, Jane and God."
> 
> This is actually something that is changing over time.  It 
> used to be that
> "no final comma" was a hard and fast rule, but many of the more recent
> style guides now suggest the comma.
> 
> My 7th grader's English textbook advocates the final comma, 
> and it led me
> to get her into trouble in one assignment.
> -- 

Ah, the "Oxford comma". See http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq/aboutother/oxfordcomma
for a bit more about it.

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