THE OXFORD COMMA

To use the Oxford comma, or not to use the Oxford comma. That is the question. This has been the topic of debate between English teachers and grammar lovers for what seems like forever. But what is the Oxford comma?

Collin’s English Dictionary defines the Oxford Comma as, “a comma between the final items in a list, often preceding the word 'and' or 'or', such as the final comma in the list newspapers, magazines, and books.” This means that you would use a comma in every space until after the initial and or or in a list, thus preventing confusion.

A lot of times, the pro side to using the Oxford comma uses the sentence (or variations): "I invited the clowns, JFK, and Stalin to my party," as an example. Without the Oxford comma, it would be suggesting that JFK and Stalin were the clowns invited rather than being invited with the clowns. While this is a good argument, the con side of the debate has and will continue to deconstruct it.

The con side has simply suggested that you put the clowns at the end of the sentence. Some anti Oxford comma blogs and pages have also stated that in AP format it is not required. As publicists and journalists, it is not required for writing.

When it all comes down to it in the end, it is the brilliant writer who makes the choice whether to use the beloved or "behated" Oxford comma.

HOW TO KILL WRITER’S BLOCK

If you’ve ever had to write a paper, procrastinated till the night before, and then didn’t know what to write about, congratulations! You understand the evil that is Writer’s Block. It’s as if it was made by the devil himself. Writer’s block may be heck, but you can thank the heavens for these tips to completely vanquish it!

The biggest struggle with writer’s block is that darned blank page. Blank pages are terrifying. The greatest tip on here will be to NOT START WITH A BLANK PAGE. It’s as easy as that. Jot some notes. Brainstorm for a bit. Voila! No blank page.

“If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.”-Stephen King. Honestly, this is self explanatory. Without other’s works, how are you to know what to write about? Expand your mind. Read newspapers, books, magazines, articles, etc. Read until you are struck with inspiration!

Writing has no starting line. You don’t need to start at the beginning until the finish. If you know how your story ends, write that down! Writing is not linear. It’s like a big ball of wibbly wobbly stuff and you have the power to put your pen to paper and write what you know.

Lastly, write what you feel like writing. If you have an idea and you’re just itching to write it, then write it. Don’t be afraid of what other people think. It’s your paper, your hands, your mind. You can write absolutely anything you want. The more you allow yourself to be creative, the better your relationship with your writing will be.

That’s about it. Go out there and write your hearts out. Remember, be creative.

Stay alive.

Tice, Carol. "20 Ways To Kill Your Writer's Block Forever". Lifehack, 2018,

https://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/20-ways-to-kill-your-writers-block-forever.html. Accessed 10 Oct 2018.

Goins, Jeff. "How To Overcome Writer's Block: 14 Tricks That Work". Goins, Writer, 2018, https://goinswriter.com/how-to-overcome-writers-block/. Accessed 10 Oct 2018.

"A Quote By Stephen King". Goodreads.Com, 2018, https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/1404-if-you-don-t-have-time-to-read-you-don-t-have. Accessed 10 Oct 2018.