Commas or no commas in this sentence

[Article Accelerator]

gabester wrote:
I choose A - but I am not an Oxford comma fan...

I don't think the OP's examples are related in any way to the use of the Oxford comma. The latter is prescribed for properly delineating three or more terms.

[Janit]

Todd's keyboard wrote:
To clarify, the sentence is one sentence in an exercise to practice use and proper placement of commas.

Ten sentences (all without commas) are given. The assignment is to place all necessary commas in their proper locations. For example, another sentence is to use one or more commas to punctuate a direct quotation.

I'm pretty sure the person who created the exercise wants students to choose version B (with the two commas). Some grammar books would call these "interrupter" commas (or some variation of "interrupt").

It's hard for me to tell students that option B is the only correct option. Version A sounds perfectly acceptable. Students sometimes find it confusing when I don't agree 100% with the text.

Todd's alternative answer-key board

Jeebus. Bad sentences make bad English, regardless of where you put the commas. And that is one hell of an infelicitous sentence.

What is the power structure like where you are teaching? Can you get away with picking and choosing which exercises you use? Are you forced to use this textbook?

[RgrF]

from my Twitter profile:
Pulitzer Prize reader - Death to the Oxford comma.

[Todd's keyboard]

Wow, I love the Oxford comma. I wrote a book that did not use Oxford commas, and I wish I could take back all of the copies and insert multitudes of Oxford commas. (It was not that important a book.)

We invited two clowns, my English teacher and my math teacher. (two people were invited)

We invited two clowns, my English teacher, and my math teacher. (four people were invited)

Todd's Limey keyboard

[Janit]

Was the textbook written by a Canadian or by an American? If the author is American, you can reassure the students that Americans don't know how to use the language properly.

[RAMd®d]

I am a fan of the Oxford comma, and commas in general.

Agreed, this is not related to that, so I would go with sentence A though, if you had no other choice in phrasing it.

Oh, and on occasion—I like a good em dash, too.

[RgrF]

Todd's keyboard wrote:
Wow, I love the Oxford comma. I wrote a book that did not use Oxford commas, and I wish I could take back all of the copies and insert multitudes of Oxford commas. (It was not that important a book.)

We invited two clowns, my English teacher and my math teacher. (two people were invited)

We invited two clowns, my English teacher, and my math teacher. (four people were invited)

Todd's Limey keyboard

Restructuring of a sentence obviates any need for a comma (Oxford or otherwise)

[Blankity Blank]

RAMd®d wrote:
I am a fan of the Oxford comma, and commas in general.

Agreed, this is not related to that, so I would go with sentence A though, if you had no other choice in phrasing it.

Oh, and on occasion—I like a good em dash, too.

In accord with almost all of the above. The comma is my comfort punctuation.

In the example given, I prefer the emphasis provided by the commas.

[Michael]

Todd's keyboard wrote:
Personally, I—after years of experience—would use em dashes, as well. However, this is a grammar question on a student's assignment.

thanks, T's kb

I think either is grammatically correct. Quite frankly, I'd choose based on the age of the teacher. Old teacher, both commas; young teacher, no commas.

[Fritz]

until Vampire Weekend came out with the song, I never heard the term Oxford comma. But sometime I do, and, sometimes I don't.