Spelling Errors: Stupid? Lazy? Or A-OK?

[JWBear]

Originally Posted by Alex

The Oxford or serial comma is completely a choice of style...

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

Either way is considered correct.

I simply don't agree. Every writing class I have ever taken taught that it is proper usage to include it. The practice of omitting it was started by newspapers in order to save space.

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

I often wished I understood the proper usage of "whom" - it is one that I seem to not be able to properly grasp.

Use "whom" when referring to the object of a sentence, and "who" when it is the subject.

"Who was given the book?" (Subject)

"The book was given to whom?" (Object)

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

Somebody (possibly someone on this board, but I cannot recall) taught me this quick reference: any time you are going to use "its" or "it's", test the sentence by using "it is." If "it is" works, then use the contraction "it's." If it doesn't work, use "its."

Remember that possessive pronouns have no apostrophes, and contractions always do.

its, whose, his, hers, theirs = possessive

it's, who's, that's, what's, he's, she's, etc = contraction