The comma performs a number of functions in English writing. Proponents of the Oxford comma say that this last comma provides clarity and helps the reader. Good question. Well, the answer isn't as simple as you might think. I'm convinced that you're probably just lazy. And if you think that the absence of the Oxford Comma makes a sentence cleaner, a cleaner sentence is useless if it doesn't make sense. The Oxford comma is completely optional. It’s far more common in non-journalistic prose, and fairly standard in the US, but it’s not often used in the UK, Australia, or South Africa. In general, the comma shows that the words immediately before the comma are less closely or exclusively linked grammatically to those immediately after the comma than they might be otherwise. Writing this sentence without the Oxford comma leave interpretation open, so it might mean that Maria asked three people, or it might mean what we discover in the next sentence. In this post we'll try help you understand when to use an Oxford comma to improve the clarity of your sentence. Presumably, the … Learn when to use the Oxford comma (or serial comma) with Grammar Rules from the Writer's Digest editors, including a few examples of correct usages. The general reasons to use the Oxford comma are: Writers of technical or scientific articles or manuals should always use the Oxford comma. The History of the Oxford Comma. The New York Times and other premiere media outlets don't use Oxford commas. – Incorrect John loves pizza, but he loves ice-cream too. THE author Sir Philip Pullman has called for the commemorative Brexit 50p to be boycotted for not having an Oxford comma. The Oxford comma originates from the Oxford University Press, where it was traditionally used by its writers and editors. However, the final comma—the one that comes before the and—is optional. Shane Ferro. The Oxford or serial comma is not always used by everyone, so many will ask when to use the Oxford comma. We would like to share the below OnlineSchools.com presentation with you for this week’s grammar tip. When there are three or more list items, then those following "US convention" should use a comma (often called an Oxford Comma) with the conjunction (usually "and" or "or"). Here we look at what it is, when you use … 2015-05-01T16:38:00Z The letter F. An envelope. And that's why I teach my kids to use the Oxford comma pretty much 100% of the time, even in short lists, simply to prevent any possibility of confusion, as well as to indicate the pauses in the proper places. In English language punctuation, a serial comma, or series comma (also called an Oxford comma or Harvard comma), is a comma placed immediately after the penultimate term (i.e. While the Oxford comma may seem like a useless little piece of punctuation, this unique little comma has a major effect on the clarity of a sentence, and can either improve your online content or drive it into the ground depending on how you use it. The Associated Press (AP) style, used by American journalists, does not require the use of the Oxford comma, so the above example sentence would be written as follows: The study shows that the patients enjoyed reading, knitting and cooking. Sure, not all sentences are unclear without it; but some are, and therefore it would be better to use the Oxford Comma at all times for the sake of a uniform rule. An Oxford comma, or serial comma, is the final comma in a list. Although not grammatically necessary, the use of this comma is preferred in academic and other formal writing, especially in American usage. Mandating the Oxford comma is inimical … Oxford commas are the galoshes of grammar: sometimes necessary to avoid a mess, but never elegant. The Oxford comma which is named after Oxford University Press has long been the subject of arguments. An apostrophe which identifies the possessive case should be used here. December 5, 2011 at 1:37 pm. The Oxford Comma. The dashes have a slightly more emphatic feel, making the reader focus on this information that is set inside the special marks. The Oxford comma is the one that comes after Harry if you follow the Oxford comma rules and for some writers, they would omit the comma completely. Oxford University Press and the Chicago Manual of Style adhere to using the Oxford comma, as do many researchers, writers in academia, and a variety of other reputable publications. The premiere grammar ruling for journalists says we don't need the Oxford comma. First, you’ll (almost) always need a comma when you use the word “and” as a coordinating conjunction and place it between two independent clauses. It better matches the cadence of spoken English. You should, if you are in search of being a well-read online writer. Lisa says. The Oxford comma is the last comma used in a list of three or more items and is stylistic in its usage, which essentially means that you use it depending on what kind of writing you're doing. A serial comma can be … In this video, learn how to make informed decisions about when to use this comma in your writing. In the phrase "ham, egg, and chips" it's the comma between "egg" and "and". Ah, the Oxford comma. What is the Oxford comma, when to use it and is its use mandatory, has been one of the most divisive debates in English punctuation for decades. Our GrammarBook.com Rule 1 of Commas recommends, “To avoid confusion, use commas to separate words and word groups with a series of three or more.”. She wanted to buy the ship which won the race. The debate rages on regarding inclusion of the Oxford, or serial, comma. Oxford Comma Examples. It’s at the center of one of the most contentious copy-editing debates of all time. Why do they use it? The Oxford comma, also known as the serial comma, is a comma placed before the conjunction in a list of three or more words or phrases. They want to know which dependent clause should be deleted? The first person to use a comma to separate items in a list was the Aldo Manuzio, a 15th-century painter. Seriously, type Oxford comma into your search bar, and you’ll no doubt find a whole slew of opinions from enthusiasts and non-believers. Across the pond, they have the Associated Press, which has never formally adopted its use, making the Oxford comma traditionally optional in American English. The second sentence uses no comma, as it is not required. Oxford comma (also known as the "serial comma" or "Harvard comma") is the name given to the optional final comma in a series. Who cares about an Oxford comma? Use of the Oxford comma is a contentious grammatical rule, inspiring debate among the literary elite on par with conspiracy theorists and Bigfoot. Are Oxford commas grammatically correct? Oxford Comma (The Quick Answer) An Oxford Comma is a comma used before the last list item in a list of three or more items. Some believe that its use … It resolves ambiguity. Its use is attributed to Horace Hart, who included it in “Hart’s Rules for Compositors and Readers,” his 1905 style guide for the Oxford University Press. The actual person who introduced the Oxford comma is, unfortunately, unclear. Em dashes can be used in pairs to replace commas when writing a parenthetical or interruptive phrase. [T]he last comma can serve to resolve ambiguity, particularly when any of the items are compound terms joined by a conjunction, and it is sometimes helpful to the reader to use an isolated serial comma for clarification even when the convention has not been adopted in the rest of … – Correct Where the but is not joining two independent clauses, do not use a comma. The Oxford comma has become the knee-jerk reaction of punctuation. Next, depending on the style guide you use, you may need to place a serial comma, also called an Oxford comma, before the word “and” when it’s used … Even as online grammar checkers force the penultimate comma upon the unsuspecting masses, anti-Oxford diehards push back against its use.