The following are simple examples of serial commas. Ap style, the oxford comma, and communication april 15. Its also controversial, because some syntax pedants insist that its bad form. However, chicago style or the chicago manual of style, which is commonly used by book publishers, academics and trade publications does require an oxford comma. Keep in mind, however, that newspapers are often pressed for space. The oxford or serial comma is the final comma in a list of things. You may read those examples and think that there is literally no difference. Word 2016 can only warn you if the oxford comma is not there good for people who prefer the comma required before last item. The mayor said that his opponent was one of the worst candidates ever to run for office. For example, the array fiddleheads,okra,kohlrabi should get converted to the string fiddleheads, okra, and kohlrabi.
That was settled in 1972 when millions of ap and upi staff fought on the very moon. While the oxford comma obviously serves an important purpose, many journalistic publications rigidly follow ap style and do not allow their writers to make use of it. Mar 16, 2017 or more accurately, the serial comma, also known as the oxford or harvard comma depending on where youre from, which comes after the penultimate item and before a conjunction in a series. If my passion hasnt convinced you, and you still somehow think that the oxford comma is unimportant, i will now present a list of reasons to prove to you why were fighting so hard to keep it around. Some believe that the oxford comma is a pretentious addon used to make grammar nerds feel superior. The oxford commaalso called the serial comma and the harvard commais a regular source of confusion and angst. I am constantly looking up the answers to my grammatical queries. Use of the oxford comma is stylistic, meaning that some style guides demand its. Did you know that the meaning of a list can be changed by something as simple as a comma.
The guidelines help writers present clear and concise information with consistent structure to keep readers focused. Nov 27, 2017 i can tell you why im an ardent user of the oxford comma in almost all instances. Anyway, pro comma people are not giving up without a fight. For example, the oxford style manual 2002 and the chicago manual of style 2003 support the mandatory use of the oxford comma, while the new york times stylebook and the economist style manual oppose it. Perhaps its called a harvard comma when the sentence is about how much yale sucks and an oxford comma when the sentence is about bad teeth.
The venerable style guide you know and love, the ap stylebook, is having a big birthday. Commas have very strict rules, so there is a very clear right and wrong in using them. Yet people are often taught that they should always use it or never use it. If the oxford comma is, in fact, oxford, im the year you took off college to go chill with some maasai in. Use of the oxford comma is stylistic, meaning that some style guides demand its use while others dont. Writers trained in ap style know when and when not to use oc. Heres an example of a sentence with the oxford comma. In some style guides, such as that of the associated press ap, the only time an oxford comma is used is when it is necessary in order to accurately understand the sentence. Ap style thats the associated press stylebook, which many.
Omitting a comma causes information to run together, leading to a change in meaning or loss of clarity. If the oxford comma is a prepster in chinos and a green lacoste polo, im a hipster in a dirty flannel shirt and skinny jeans. The 2019 edition of the associated press stylebook and briefing on media law includes more than 200 new or revised entries, with chapters covering data journalism, business, fashion, food, religion and sports terms, as well as media law, news values, punctuation, social media, polls and surveys and a new chapter on health and science. Three of four the chicago manual of style, garners modern american usage, and strunk and. The oxford comma is massively overrated business insider. Heres an example of a sentence that contains a list of two items. In this lesson, well master the oxford comma, analyzing examples that show the dos and donts of this. This quiz will see if you can spot a correct usage and understand related terms.
Find out more about the notoriously controversial serial comma in this infographic. As a diehard oxford comma loyalist, this ruling made my day. The real reason we care so deeply about the oxford comma. In grammar and punctuation, year 5 students at the minimum standard generally identify common grammatical conventions such as the correct use of conjunctions and verb forms. Whites elements of style to the dull but worthy chicago manual of style, regard the oxford or serial comma the last in a list, immediately before. The oxford comma and why we argue over grammar photo cred. When the last item in a series is connected by a coordinating conjunction e.
The oxford comma camp, the other camp, and the sane. This week we address the serial comma, seventh in the list of the top 10 most common apa style errors as identified by onwuegbuzie, combs, slate, and frels 2010 also known as the oxford comma, the serial comma is the final comma in a list of three items or more, and it is used immediately before and, or, and occasionally nor. Its really carried over into our blog, social media, emails, even in settings where ap style might be more typical. Style guides for book and academic publishing generally would insist on another comma after pears, the socalled serial comma or oxford comma. Some people, apparently, disagreeincluding those who follow the aps style book, which is most traditional newspaper reporters. How to write fiction the serial oxford comma wattpad. The new ap stylebook will not end the oxford comma debate. The oxford comma is extremely important and everyone should. Grammatically correct the writers essential guide to punctuation, spelling, style, usage and grammar. Jun 20, 2016 who really cares about the oxford comma. There is a new meme out there well, perhaps its not new, but it is all over facebook. Jan 31, 2014 i looked up the oxford comma in several language guides that i happen to have on hand i am a pedant. Nov 16, 2011 10 do not use a comma to separate a reflexive pronoun. This practice is controversial and is known as the serial comma or oxford comma, because it is part of the house style of oxford university press.
Some people believe the stylebook bans oxford commas. There are a lot of funny examples of sentences derailed by a missing oxford comma, but this is a good one. A few words about that tenmilliondollar serial comma. If the quotation is a full sentence, it should be preceded by a comma. Dec 07, 2017 brittney notes that grammarly is prooxford comma, in part because many longtimers the og grammarly users have voiced fondness for it. The comma, is one of the most commonly misused forms of punctuation. When the last comma in a series comes before and or or, it is known as the oxford comma. First of all, it makes sentences a lot less ambiguous. Mar 19, 2017 should we give a damn about the oxford comma. A few words about that tenmilliondollar serial comma the.
Anyway, procomma people are not giving up without a fight. The actual definition of the oxford comma is as follows. Where did the oxford comma come from, and why is it so. Back in the 1980s and into the 1990s, it was extremely rare for me to ever find any literature where the oxford comma was not normally. Well see where each of the heavyhitters come down on the subject. Ap style, the oxford comma, and communication the daily campus. The importance of the comma becomes more obvious if we look at a couple of alternatives. Take the sentence i ate pie, cake and cheese yesterday. How to use commas in associated press style pen and the pad.
The illusive comma is a sneaky little punctuation that often sneaks into the wrong places, so i decided to write a guide on how to use a comma in fiction. The way you know youve found a great example is that it was part of a court case. Mar 17, 2017 the times noted that it would break with style and add the serial comma in the following sentence. The times noted that it would break with style and add the serial comma in the following sentence. The case for using the oxford comma the american genius. They identify some common grammatical conventions such as the correct use of past and present tense and the use of pronouns to replace nouns in sentences. And while i dont have particularly strong feelings about the oxford comma, the argument being made is that you must use it i disagree with this, which is why i have decided to start my own rebuttal meme.
Ill be using legal citations to the courts opinion in the descr. If the oxford comma is, in fact, oxford, im the year. The oxford comma was originally eliminated by publishers where each manually. Use commas to separate elements in a series, but do not put a comma before the. Paul trienekens on unsplash this post is an expanded version of my biweekly newsletter content, which features a letter from me to you along with ideas worth sharing and a healthy dose of fun. I can tell you why im an ardent user of the oxford comma in almost all instances. In this example it is clear that the oxford comma provides needed clarification.
Mar 20, 2020 defining, understanding, and embracing the serial comma the serial comma, also known as the oxford comma or the harvard comma because the oxford and harvard university press style guides require it, is the final comma before the coordinating conjunction and in a list of three or more items. But if you dont like the oxford comma, word 2016 has removed the option to warn when the extra comma is inserted. Style experts disagree on whether or not the oxford comma also called the serial comma is. The sentence above written in ap style would look like this. Heres a popular example of a sentence in which the absence of an oxford comma results in an inaccurate and quite humorous interpretation. I looked up the oxford comma in several language guides that i happen to have on hand i am a pedant. There are cases in which the use of the serial comma can avoid ambiguity see resolving ambiguity and also instances in which its use can introduce ambiguity see creating ambiguity. Hemingway against the oxford comma what would bale do. Oxford comma a comma before the final and in lists. Ap style, the oxford comma, and communication the daily.
What they are and how to use them site title english grammar and use are the ap associated press and chicago manuals. Apr 12, 2019 its adding a comma to a list before the final and, and its important because it disambiguates sentences that would otherwise be unclear. What are some examples that show the importance of the. Or more accurately, the serial comma, also known as the oxford or harvard comma depending on where youre from, which comes after the penultimate item and before a conjunction in a. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Hopefully, it will help people understand the correct use of a comma in fiction. Most newspapers and magazines drop the oxford comma in a simple series. Ap style thats the associated press stylebook, which many journalists live by does not use an oxford comma. Defining, understanding, and embracing the serial comma the serial comma, also known as the oxford comma or the harvard comma because the oxford and harvard university press style guides require it, is the final comma before the coordinating conjunction and in. So if you didnt know, the oxford comma is basically the most important punctuation mark of all time. In the novel 1984, one of the concepts presented is the idea that thought can be. However, the omission of the oxford comma can sometimes lead to misunderstandings.
Whether you use the comma is a matter of style, meaning that some style guides call for it and some dont. The oxford comma isnt needed for clarity here, so dont use it. May 29, 20 the venerable style guide you know and love, the ap stylebook, is having a big birthday. The oxford comma is also less popular in the uk, australia, and other parts of the world than it is in the united states. In grammar and punctuation, year 3 students at the minimum standard generally identify features of a simple sentence. What is an example of the oxford comma creating ambiguity. The oxford comma is pretentious the write practice. Ap style the style guide that newspaper reporters adhere to. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Read the serial oxford comma from the story how to write fiction by eliciahyder elicia hyder with 5,203 reads. The oxford comma is the comma before the and in a list. Weve kept the oxford comma just to keep things consistent. Aps stance is to omit the serial comma except when it prevents misreading.
Nov 05, 2015 the guardian and observer style guide. It is the final comma in a list of words or phrases that are separated by commas it comes before the word and. The oxford comma can be particularly helpful in a sentence where there is some ambiguity. But news writing has traditionally omitted the serial comma perhaps seeking a more rapid feeling in the prose, or perhaps to save time and effort in the old days of manual typesetting. Adding the oxford comma gives us i ate pie, cake, and cheese yesterday. A serial comma simply means that a comma will separate each element in a series of three or more, even before the coordinating conjunctions and and before or. Ap stylethe style guide that newspaper reporters adhere to.
I recently purchased a very good reference book titled. Some think it is a good idea to decide on a case by case basis, but. The associated press has a stylebook with rules and standards used primarily in journalistic and news writing. The uo football team won the game, and the ducks are going to the rose bowl. Jun 23, 2015 style guides for book and academic publishing generally would insist on another comma after pears, the socalled serial comma or oxford comma.
In general, do not use a comma before and or or in a series. Whites elements of style to the dull but worthy chicago manual of style, regard the oxford or serial. Associated press style book ap, and the new york times do not support the oxford comma. Oxford comma in word 2016 isnt as good office watch. Ap style dictates specific comma placement in a series and with dialogue, dates, numbers. Its adding a comma to a list before the final and, and its important because it disambiguates sentences that would otherwise be unclear. I had orange juice, toast, and ham and eggs for breakfast. Excessive commas cause information to become choppy and disconnected, confusing the reader.
75 1013 1512 817 1103 989 1405 157 675 1351 970 431 265 1362 1508 4 134 1436 986 1375 460 1135 1010 478 1250 1174 1463 1308 1514 360 352 1262 1200 853 93 625 380 1374 948 1363 501 449 845