What is the Oxford comma? In a list of three or more items, the last comma is called the Oxford comma (or the serial comma). For example, in He bought eggs, milk, and bread, there’s a comma between each item listed. The comma before and is the Oxford comma.
What is an Oxford comma give an example?
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.
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 Oxford comma grammatically correct?
Are Oxford commas grammatically correct? 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.
What is an example of a comma sentence?
Example: I went to the store to buy milk, eggs, and bread. or I went to the store to buy milk, eggs and bread. Either way is acceptable if meaning is clear, but be consistent with the pattern you choose.
Do I need a comma in this sentence?
Use a comma when the first word of the sentence is freestanding “yes” or “no.” Use a comma when directly addressing someone or something in a sentence. Use a comma between two adjectives that modify the same noun. Use a comma to offset negation in a sentence.
What are the 4 types of commas?
There are four types of comma: the listing comma, the joining comma, the gapping comma and bracketing commas.
Why don’t we use the Oxford comma anymore?
Why don’t they use it? 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 is the Oxford comma so controversial?
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.” There are cases in which the use of the serial comma can avoid ambiguity, and also instances in which its use can introduce ambiguity.
Why do Americans use Oxford comma?
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 is Oxford comma style?
In a sentence with a list of three or more items, the Oxford comma is the comma you place right before the coordinating conjunction and last item in the list. It is also known as a serial comma, a series comma, or a Harvard comma. The Oxford comma is considered optional by American English language grammarians.
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.
How do you activate the Oxford comma?
How do I turn on Microsoft’s Oxford (serial) comma checker?
- Open Word and click “File”.
- Click “Options”.
- Click “Proofing”.
- Next to Grammar and Refinements, click “Settings”.
- Under “Punctuation Conventions” tick the box for Oxford Comma.
What are 5 examples of simple sentences?
1. Simple Sentences
- Joe waited for the train. “Joe” = subject, “waited” = verb.
- The train was late. “The train” = subject, “was” = verb.
- Mary and Samantha took the bus.
- I looked for Mary and Samantha at the bus station.
- Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station early but waited until noon for the bus.
What are the 8 rules for commas examples?
- Commas (Eight Basic Uses)
- USE A COMMA TO SEPARATE INDEPENDENT CLAUSES.
- USE A COMMA AFTER AN INTRODUCTORY CLAUSE OR PHRASE.
- USE A COMMA BETWEEN ALL ITEMS IN A SERIES.
- USE COMMAS TO SET OFF NONRESTRICTIVE CLAUSES.
- USE A COMMA TO SET OFF APPOSITIVES.
- USE A COMMA TO INDICATE DIRECT ADDRESS.
What a comma looks like?
The comma , is a punctuation mark that appears in several variants in different languages. It has the same shape as an apostrophe or single closing quotation mark (‘) in many typefaces, but it differs from them in being placed on the baseline of the text.
When should commas not be used?
Do not use commas to set off essential elements of the sentence, such as clauses beginning with that (relative clauses). That clauses after nouns are always essential. That clauses following a verb expressing mental action are always essential.
What are the 3 rules for commas?
A comma is a punctuation mark that indicates a pause in the sentence. The most common three rules of commas involve introducers, interrupters, and add-ons. Sometimes even an instructor’s marks on an essay don’t help. If you’ve used too many commas this time, on the next paper you might not use any–and vice versa.
What are the 5 comma rules with examples?
When to use commas: 5 rules and examples
- Use a comma to separate anything before an independent clause.
- Use a comma to separate independent clauses joined by coordinating conjunctions.
- Use a comma to separate all non-essential information.
- Do not use a comma to separate essential information.
What is an unnecessary comma called?
Except after an introductory dependent clause, do not use a comma to separate a dependent clause from a main clause unless the dependent clause provides nonessential information. See also Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Modifiers.
Why do people use 3 commas instead of periods?
It is online slang, generally used to indicate a more emphasized trail-off, somewhat like a mixture between an ellipsis and comma, like you’d hear after saying “anyhow”.