30 novembre 2022

Serial Comma Rules Oxford

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Many sources object to both the systematic use and avoidance of the serial comma and make recommendations in a more nuanced way (see #Recommendations style guides and the following sections). Finally, the AP Stylebook, like all style guides, recommends putting a serial comma before the closing conjunction in a row if using a comma does not cause confusion. A serial comma can be essential to the meaning of a sentence. Always use the serial comma if not using it would cause ambiguity or confusion. Keep in mind that the serial comma can affect the meaning of a sentence. The spell checker will often misdirect you when it comes to commas with appositives, so you should check this yourself. There are cases where the use of the serial comma can avoid ambiguity, and also cases where its use can introduce ambiguity. [16] Most style guidelines used in academic writing, including the Chicago Manual of Style, the APA Publication Manual, and the MLA Handbook, prescribe the use of the serial comma. It is not clear whether eggs are grouped with bacon or toast. The addition of a serial comma removes this ambiguity: Lynne Truss writes: « There are people who accept the Oxford comma and people who do not, and I simply say: never pass between these people while drinking. » [6] Be sure to correct the comma. It doesn`t always go before the final and. The use of the Oxford comma is stylistic, which means that some style guidelines require its use, others do not.

AP Style – the style guide that newspaper journalists follow – does not require the use of the Oxford comma. The AP-style sentence above would look like this: If you`re not writing for a specific publication or writing an essay for school, it`s usually up to you whether or not to use the Oxford comma. However, omission can sometimes lead to strange misunderstandings. The Oxford Companion to the English Language states: « Usage varies in terms of the inclusion of a comma before and in the latter period. This practice is controversial and is called serial comma or Oxford comma because it is part of Oxford University Press` house style. [15] The Oxford comma (or series) is the last comma in a list of things. For example: Those who oppose the Oxford comma argue that rephrasing an already unclear sentence can solve the same problems as using the Oxford comma. Example: Explanation: If you start a sentence with a dependent set, use a comma after it.

Finally, in the body of messages, the serial comma is usually omitted. Even if you follow a style that doesn`t require a serial comma, you should still use it if necessary for the meaning of the sentence. Do not use a serial comma when a pair of words or phrases is used descriptively rather than in a row. In creative writing, where rhythm and cadence are more important than consistency and uniqueness, the serial comma is often omitted (although some writers prefer it, and that`s perfectly fine). leaves open the possibility that Betty is both a housekeeper and a cook (where « a maid and a cook » is read as a unit, in reference to Betty). In this case, neither the serial comma style nor the series comma style resolves the ambiguity. An author who intends to draw up a list of three different people (Betty, maid, cook) can create an ambiguous sentence, whether the serial comma is adopted or not. If the reader does not know which convention is used, the two versions are always ambiguous. The serial comma is often used in American English, especially in formal writing. In British writing, it is usually omitted.

The debate over the inclusion of the Oxford or serial comma continues. Our GrammarBook.com Rule 1 of commas recommends: « To avoid confusion, use commas to separate words and phrases with a series of three or more. » The serial comma, also known as the Oxford comma or Harvard comma, is the comma before the final conjunction (and, or) of a series. It appears after the penultimate item in a list of three or more items in a set. In the last issue of The Blue Book of Grammar and Internctuation and on the website, we indicated a preference for the use of the serial comma or Oxford. Rule 1 – To avoid confusion, use commas to separate words and sentences with a series of three or more. The serial comma is more common in American usage than in British usage. Its use is also more common in academic writing than in creative writing and message text. The serial comma after Ayn Rand creates ambiguity about the author`s mother because it uses punctuation identical to that of an appositive sentence, so it is not clear whether it is a list of three entities (1, my mother; 2, Ayn Rand; and 3, God) or just two entities (1, my mother, who is Ayn Rand; and 2, God). [16] A continuous comma after « Kris Kristofferson » would prevent this from being understood as Kris Kristofferson and Robert Duvall as the ex-wives in question. In some circumstances, the use of the serial comma may result in ambiguity. When the dedication of the above book is changed to As I was checking the commas, I noticed the following: Rule 5.

Use commas to highlight the name, nickname, concept of tenderness, or title of a person directly addressed. In academic, commercial, and other formal writings where it is important to convey precise meaning, the serial comma is generally preferred, especially in the American language. If the last element of a line is a pair of words connected by and , do not accidentally insert a comma before the and. Common arguments for consistent use of the serial comma: I read a book in which the sentence reads, « My idea of goodness includes truth, justice, beauty, love, and serenity. » But as I understand it, this can only be done with and or or, right? Not another fanboy like NONOR? But most of the time, the serial comma is not essential to meaning. Whether you use it or not depends on the style you follow. Remember that the series comma appears after the penultimate element in a line and is followed by a conjunction such as and or or. The series you punctuate can contain words, phrases, or clauses. In English punctuation, a serial comma (also called serial comma, Oxford comma, or Harvard comma),[1][2] is a comma that immediately follows the penultimate term (i.e. is placed before the coordinating conjunction such as and or or) in a series of three or more terms. For example, a list of three countries might be punctuated as « France, Italy, and Spain » (without the serial comma) or « France, Italy and Spain » (with the serial comma). [3] [4] [5] The last comma in a series before and or or is called an Oxford comma or series. In our comma rule 1, we explain why some authors record it and others don`t.

At GrammarBook.com, we prefer to use it because we are more interested in clear communication than in saving a place. We`ve also published the grammar tip above dedicated to the Oxford comma, which concludes that if you live in the US, you should use it unless you`re writing for a news outlet that follows AP Style. Without the Oxford comma, the above sentence could be interpreted to mean that you love your parents and that your parents are Lady Gaga and Humpty Dumpty. Here is the same sentence with the Oxford comma: What if there are only 2 elements in a row, but one of the elements contains an internal conjunction? Do we need to use a serial comma in this case? Which of the two options is correct: There is confusion about the author`s ancestry because « Ayn Rand and God » can be read as an appropriation for my parents, leading the reader to believe that the author claims that Ayn Rand and God are the parents. A comma before and eliminates ambiguity: semicolons instead of commas are used to punctuate lists where each item itself contains internal commas. If the style you are following requires serial commas, use series semicolons in a complex series instead. In O`Connor v. Oakhurst Dairy,[52] a federal court of appeal was required to interpret legislation under which « the canning, processing, preservation, freezing, drying, marketing, storage, packaging for shipment or distribution » of certain goods were activities exempt from the general overtime pay requirement; The question was whether that list included the distribution of the goods or only the packaging of the goods to be distributed.

The absence of a comma suggested one meaning, while the omission of the conjunction or before « pack » and the fact that the Maine Legislative Drafting Manual advised against the use of the serial comma suggested another. It states, « Although punctuation authorities may vary, when drafting Maine laws or rules, do not use a comma between the penultimate and last period in a series. » [53] In addition to the absence of a comma, the fact that the word chosen was « distribution » and not « distribution » was taken into consideration,[54] as well as whether it would be reasonable to consider the list as an asyndetic list (a list in which the coordinating conjunction is missing). Truck drivers demanded overtime pay, and the defense acknowledged that the term was ambiguous, but said it should be interpreted as exempting distributive activity from overtime pay. [54] The District Court agreed with the defence and ruled that « broadcasting » was an exempt activity.

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