THE LIBRARY — For years, the “Grammar Police” have been mocked for their obsession with the Oxford Comma. We have been called pedants. We have been called annoying. But today, we are called vindicated.
If you ever need a reason to justify your correction of a text message, look no further than the case of the Oakhurst Dairy drivers.
The Most Expensive Typo in History
In a landmark legal battle, a group of truck drivers in Maine won a massive settlement because of a single missing comma in the state’s overtime laws. As reported by The New York Times, the absence of the Oxford comma created a legal ambiguity that forced the company to pay out nearly $5 million (originally sought as $10 million).
The court ruled that without the comma, “packing for shipment or distribution” could be read as one activity rather than two. The drivers argued they did distribution but not packing, and therefore, the exemption didn’t apply to them.
Wear Your Corrections with Pride
Grammar isn’t just about being right; it’s about not losing millions of dollars in court. Celebrate this victory with our “I’m Silently Correcting Your Grammar” tee or the classic “Let’s Eat Grandma” (Punctuation Saves Lives) shirt. It’s not just fashion; it’s legal protection.