Are Oxford commas grammatically correct?
An Oxford, or serial, comma is the last comma in a list; it goes before the word “and.” Technically, it’s grammatically optional in American English. However, depending on the list you are writing out, omitting it can lead to some confusion.
Is the Oxford comma pretentious?
The last comma in that sentence above is an Oxford comma, also known as the serial comma or the Harvard comma. Its name is always pretentious, and its purpose is always the same: it comes before the conjunction (in this case, “and”) in a list.
Why is the Oxford comma important?
The Oxford comma is the final comma before the conjunction (e.g., and, or) in a series. It’s important to include Oxford commas in your writing because, in English, we also use what are called “commas of direct address” to separate what we’re saying from the person/object we’re addressing.
Why you should always use the Oxford comma?
The Oxford comma is the comma placed before the conjunction at the end of a list of things. For example, in “the flag was red, white, and blue”, the Oxford comma would be the one appearing before “and”. Proponents of the Oxford comma say it’s necessary for removing ambiguity in sentences.
Is the Oxford comma used in APA?
APA uses the serial (or Oxford) comma in lists of three or more items (i.e., Groucho, Harpo, and Zeppo). Most prefixes are not hyphenated: semistructured, nondenominational, multimedia, antisocial, posttest, pretest, and so forth.
What is the opposite of the Oxford comma?
“To separate the elements (words, phrases, clauses) of a simple series of more than 2 elements, including a comma before the closing ‘and’ or ‘or’ (the so-called serial comma). Routine use of the serial comma helps to prevent ambiguity.” “Whether to include the serial comma has sparked many arguments.
Why does everyone talk about the Oxford comma?
Proponents say it provides clarity, and critics say it provides redundancy. It goes by “serial” and “Oxford,” for the Oxford University Press style guide, which advocates for the serial comma (even though it’s generally more common in American English usage than British English).
Which is an example of the Oxford comma?
Those who oppose the Oxford comma argue that rephrasing an already unclear sentence can solve the same problems that using the Oxford comma does. For example: I love my parents, Lady Gaga and Humpty Dumpty. I love Lady Gaga, Humpty Dumpty and my parents. Your writing, at its best.
Where does the Oxford comma go after eraser?
The Oxford comma comes right after eraser. Use of the Oxford comma is stylistic, meaning that some style guides demand its use while others don’t.
Can you use Oxford comma without Humpty Dumpty?
However, omitting this quotation mark can lead to funny things: I love my parents, Lady Gaga and Humpty Dumpty. Without the Oxford comma, this sentence can be understood as follows: you love your parents – Lady Gaga and Humpty Dumpty. But with the punctuation symbol, everything falls into place: I love my parents, Lady Gaga, and Humpty Dumpty.
Is the Oxford comma required in the AP Style Guide?
Use of the Oxford comma is stylistic, meaning that some style guides demand its use while others don’t. AP Style-the style guide that newspaper reporters adhere to-does not require the use of the Oxford comma.