Contrary to what most students believe, the Oxford comma isn’t grammatically correct. But that doesn’t mean it’s wrong to use it. Instead, it’s grammatically optional.
Is the Oxford comma always necessary?
The Oxford comma has been around for centuries, but is entirely optional: the rules of punctuation do not demand its use. Technically it’s never wrong, but it may not always be necessary.
Does everyone use the Oxford comma?
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.
Is the Oxford comma optional in British English?
Despite being named after a British University, the Oxford comma (the comma used before “and” in lists (e.g., I like wookies, ewoks, and droids)) is not considered standard in UK English because only one style guide (Oxford) recommends it.
What writing styles require an Oxford comma?
Common Style Guide Rules for Oxford Comma Use
1. Style guides that encourage the use of the Oxford comma: Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style, the MLA Style Manual, The Chicago Manual of Style, APA style, and the U.S. Government Printing Office Style Manual all adopt the Oxford comma in their house style.
Why do people omit the Oxford comma?
Regardless of the order, a proper noun and a common noun would be next to each other in a list, and an Oxford comma would allow readers to mistake one as a clarification of the previous noun. Another reason to skip the Oxford comma is to save time, both for the writer and reader.
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.
Do you always need a comma before a name?
Let’s start with the fact that unless a name or title is the last word(s) in a sentence, it can either be used with no commas at all, OR with a comma both before and after. It is incorrect to place only one comma before the name or title.
Does America use Oxford comma?
The Serial/Oxford Comma
Most American English style guides recommend using this comma as standard: I believe in good spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
Does London England need a comma?
Commas with Names of Places
A comma should be used between the name of a city and state/nation. Let’s look at the following examples: They will be traveling to a conference in Denver, Colorado. We want to start construction in London, England.
Do you need a comma before which UK?
Use a comma before which when it introduces a nonrestrictive phrase. Don’t use a comma before which when it’s part of a prepositional phrase, such as “in which.” Don’t use a comma before which when it introduces an indirect question.
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.
Who got rid of the Oxford comma?
(3) Perishable foods. So now we get to replace Oxford comma pedantry with semicolon pedantry. The change, sponsored by Senator Andre Cushing, was among dozens of legislative tweaks signed by the governor in June.
What is the big deal about 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 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.
Do most 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.
Why are there no commas in legal documents?
Punctuation was traditionally omitted in legal documents and this practise is continued by many Will and Trust drafters. Drafters prefer instead to use underlining or spacing to avoid the ordinary use of commas. The traditional exclusion rests on a precedent both ancient and authoritative.
Can you legally have punctuation in your name?
Apostrophes, hyphens, periods and spaces are okay. You can have apostrophes, hyphens and spaces in a name, but they can’t be consecutive. Also, Baby, Babyboy, Babygirl, Baby Boy, Baby Girl, Infant, Test, Unk and Void are invalid entries in the data entry system. Derogatory or obscene names are banned in California.
Do you put a comma after good morning before a name?
However, a comma should separate a direct greeting and a person’s name. So if you were to write “Good morning, Mrs. Johnson,” you’d have to place a comma between “Good morning” and “Mrs. Johnson.”
When addressing someone you should put commas around their name?
Fortunately, it is easy to learn this. If someone or something is being addressed in a sentence, then a comma or pair of commas is necessary. But if someone or something is the object of the sentence—the thing to which an action is done—then no commas are required.
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]”.