We use the serial comma at The New Yorker. It prevents ambiguity.
Do newspapers use the Oxford comma?
Newspapers, in general, do not use the serial comma. The Associated Press Stylebook says to use a serial comma only when leaving it out would cause confusion. Many book publishers use it, including Oxford University Press, which is why it’s also called the Oxford comma.
Who uses the Oxford comma?
“In British practice there’s an Oxford/Cambridge divide … In Canada and Australia the serial comma is recommended only to prevent ambiguity or misreading.” “The so-called ‘Oxford comma’ is an optional comma that follows the penultimate item in a list of three or more items and precedes the word ‘and’ …
Is the Oxford comma unprofessional?
While the Oxford comma is technically grammatically correct, it is most often unnecessary and pointless. Thus, writers and editors should eliminate the comma unless it is absolutely essential for comprehension.
Why do newspapers not use the Oxford comma?
Those with bad taste said not to use the Oxford comma, but what they actually mean is to only use it in certain circumstances. The Associated Press Stylebook, the grammar stylebook commonly used by journalists, says not to use the comma UNLESS omitting it can lead to confusion or misinterpretation.
Is the Oxford comma obsolete?
The short answer: No. Many writers, including journalists, live by the Associated Press stylebook. AP style does not use Oxford commas. However, Chicago style does require Oxford commas.
Why don t lawyers use the Oxford comma?
Use of the Oxford comma is mostly a matter of preference and varies by region and profession. Lawyers should use the Oxford comma to help avoid ambiguity. Three ambiguities may arise without this comma: Whether the two final items in a list are one combined element or separate.
Does the SAT use the Oxford comma?
The comma between the last two items is sometimes called the serial or Oxford comma. Although some style guides make it optional, most require it. On the SAT, the Oxford comma is required.
Are Oxford commas American?
British and American English both use the Oxford comma like this, but they differ on when it is used: Typically, in British English, we only use an Oxford comma when a list would be unclear without one, such as in the example sentence above. In American English, it is often standard to use an Oxford comma in lists.
What’s the difference between an Oxford comma and a regular comma?
What is an Oxford comma? To give the Oxford comma its technical definition, it is a comma used before the final conjunction in a list of three or more items. When you’re writing a list, you naturally include commas to separate each item, but an Oxford comma is when you also put a comma before the “and [Final Item]”.
Is the Oxford comma pretentious?
The blue-blood punctuation mark, named after the Oxford University Press, acts as a social signifier, a sieve for the bookish and studious (and, perhaps, pretentious). It suggests personality traits that extend far beyond punctuation preferences. There are other ways of doing this in your Tinder profile, of course.
Does Harvard use Oxford 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.
Why do people dislike the Oxford comma?
Many opponents of the Oxford comma claim that it makes a piece of writing sound more pretentious and stuffy, and that it can make things seem cluttered and redundant. Many magazine publishers renounce its use as well, because sentences loaded with commas take up valuable page space.
Why do newspapers put 4 dots on the bottom?
The four dots blue (cyan), pink (magenta), yellow and black are registration marks used during printing to help ensure the print is aligned properly. In offset printing technology, which newspapers use, the inked image is transferred from a plate to a rubber blanket, then to the printing surface.
What is the journalism rule for using commas?
When two independent clauses are joined to make a compound sentence, a comma is needed just before the conjunction. Most often, compound sentences use one of seven coordinating conjunctions, also known as FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.
Do most American standardized tests prefer the Oxford comma?
Though the SAT and ACT test you on a ton of rules and conventions of grammar, they don’t take a stance on the Oxford comma.
Does Chicago style use Oxford comma?
Oxford style is usually associated with the “Oxford comma”—the comma before the conjunction in a series of three or more (like the one before “and” in “apples, oranges, and pears”). But this comma has also always been Chicago style.
How much was the lawsuit over the Oxford comma?
The dairy company in Portland, Me., agreed to pay $5 million to the drivers, according to court documents filed on Thursday.
What SAT score does Oxford want?
The University of Oxford requires applicants from the US to submit either their SAT scores or ACT scores. Like most colleges and universities, Oxford doesn’t prefer one standardized test over the other. The minimum SAT score required is 1480. On the other hand, the minimum ACT score required is 33.
Does Oxford care about SAT?
Admissions Requirements
The qualifications required for Oxford and Cambridge are similar to those required for many US universities. The most common of which are SAT or ACT scores and accompanying SAT Subject Test or AP scores. International Baccalaureate(IB) is also accepted.
What SAT score is good for Oxford?
U.S. Qualifications for Oxford and Cambridge
Successful candidates would typically have SAT Reasoning Test scores of at least 700 in Critical Reading, Mathematics and the Writing Paper, or ACT with a score of at least 32 out of 36.