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"). Cheese, yer know, cheese? The Oxford comma has become the knee-jerk reaction of punctuation. But does the comma really add clarity? My advice: when it comes to the Oxford comma, place it in an She invited her friend James, a trumpet player and several drummers over for a jam session.She invited her friend James, a trumpet player, and several drummers over for a jam session. And onion, yer know, onion? Er, cobbler's. The Oxford comma is purely a style thing. Anyway, it's a load of cobblers'. Let all us Remainers try and take it out of circulation by hoarding and/or deface it .

The Oxford comma is purely a style thing.

Try using the search bar at the top of the page to search for some keywords, or choose a topic and It doesn't 'need' one, but I would have used one. Yes, the meaning changes. The Oxford comma has become the knee-jerk reaction of punctuation. I think other languages have other ways with the ‘and’. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.Sorry, we can't find any related questions. News 4 mins ago. Even the (In the name of balanced blogging, other prominent style guides do not agree, including the venerated Chicago Manual of Style, the American Psychological Association and American Medical Association style guides.

It's known as the Oxford comma because it was traditionally used by printers, readers, and editors at Oxford University Press. Think about it. It’s purpose is not to resolve ambiguity, so I’d argue that the example of Amis and Rowling quoted above is still ambiguous. Because things don’t always go in the Oxford comma’s favour: So, does James play the trumpet or not? My point is, the comma changes the meaning. So perhaps that leaves detractors in a more freeform place. More willing to fly case-by-case. Consider a list with at least three different items: apples, oranges and bananas. Before one can make the decision about whether they should use an Oxford comma or not, one must first understand what the Oxford comma is. If you are using it to try and be unambiguous then it’s not an Oxford comma :-) I'd be happy to do it Lynne. 2. According to I’m not saying you have to nerd out over a comma. The same principle applies to punctuating a sentence.Many modern style guides agree. nailit Power Tools And Loud Music In Lockdown. Media & TV 5 mins ago.

A driver had been working extra hours The dairy company case settled in 2018 at $5 million and the punctuation nerds went wild. Even as online grammar checkers force the penultimate comma upon the unsuspecting masses, anti-Oxford … ChatterBank 0 min ago. It should be used to clarify, when needed, there are some good examples in the article eg: // “Compare: ‘I dedicate this book to my parents, Martin Amis, and JK Rowling’ with ‘I dedicate this book to my parents, Martin Amis and JK Rowling’.” //- good example without the Oxford Comma it looks like Martin Amis and JK Rowling are my parents. Called such as it was used by the Oxford University press. How can cheese and onion be one thing?

If Phillip Pullman says it needs one then I disagree on principle! Cobbler,s? The Canadian Press and Associated Press style guides that I cut my teeth on recommend using the Oxford comma only to avoid confusion. //If you are using it to try and be unambiguous then it’s not an Oxford comma :-) // I see all the points but still think the sentence in question doesn't need it. Let's take a look at the Oxford comma debate and why using the serial comma actually makes things easier—despite an extra comma here and there. Possibly because its use by algorithms and humans has swelled like a Bay of Fundy tide in recent years. No best answer has yet been selected by ToraToraTora.

(I’m laughing to myself at my self-isolated stand-up desk…no one to hear my jokes…)In rugby, the gentle(wo)man’s game, advantage is played when an infringement has occurred and the non-offender can gain a territorial or a tactical opportunity without the whistle being blown. bhg481 Virus Too Brilliant For Antibiotics. It's like the bracket in maths. The referee signals advantage with an extended arm. Style experts disagree on whether or not the Oxford comma (also called the serial comma) is required but that is a stupid argument because CLEARLY YOU SHOULD USE IT.

What I can’t tell is whether this position is like the rise of automatic transmission vs. the slow fade-away of the stick-shift as the Oxford comma is auto-added one bot-reviewed document at a time. I agree with your examples, but I think the labels on 1 and 2 could be improved. Ambiguity. The first group is about independent clauses, not main clauses. What I believe is that use should be conscious. It's not just decorative. It’s purpose is not to resolve ambiguity, so I’d argue that the example of Amis and Rowling quoted above is still ambiguous. (That’s all I’m pitching—be deliberate with your choices. Peter Pedant 7 Up. If you have an opinion on commas it often follows that you ascribe to a certain style guide as well. The I acknowledge that an Oxford comma adds clarity to a sentence. Fair enough, angry grammarians are scary.How you present yourself in writing is really a kind of intellectual version of clothing.” Not only intellectual, you can also drape yourself in pro-Oxford comma clothing. )In 2014, a lack of clarity caused by a missing comma provided the basis for a $10 million class-action against a Maine dairy company.

Does the lack of anti-Oxford gear suggests the comma has curried the majority of public favour? I’m not suggesting it doesn’t have its place. Of course, I remain in the anti-rote use of Oxford comma camp. Ironically, they did so using a series of semi-colons; not a comma in sight. – user9853 Jun 20 '11 at 2:33.

You should write my shopping lists, that's where I'm going wrong Ludwig. The Oxford Comma Debate. Bam! Answer Question >> Latest Posts. Add clarity. Without thinking it through, application of the comma creates the confusion that fans professes to clarify.If clarity is needed, by all means add the comma.