Oxford Comma Decides Court Case in Maine Labor Dispute
Never underestimate the power of good grammar.
So rejoice, grammar nerds, and know that the law is on our side.
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Oxford Comma Decides Court Case in Maine Labor Dispute
Never underestimate the power of good grammar.
So rejoice, grammar nerds, and know that the law is on our side.
Explain to me the need to have a court of law define how language should be written! Written language is just as individual as it is universal. To have a societal law that defines how I should write, is like making individuality illegal.
+Curtis Edenfield individuality is for poetry. Not legal documents or policy.
+Paul Hosking So your saying wasting more tax payer money than what was paid out for the claim. By someone putting or Not putting a comma in is worth it? Plus the fact that the person OR persons may or may not have been taught that way. Was it truly worth it?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
I don't see anything about the case where the court is telling you how to write. At most, it's reminding you that ambiguity has consequences.
While the ambiguity opened up room for different interpretations, the choice of which interpretation to choose came from the idea of labor laws being meant to protect workers.
In other words, the choice to not use the Oxford comma didn't decide the case. It merely allowed there to be a case because there was ambiguity in the law. Sometimes ambiguity in laws is a good thing, as in this case where the court was able to protect the people.
Legal language has its own odd quirks specifically to eliminate ambiguity.