I also think adding in the oxford comma can mess with the flow of the sentence, when without it, it feels a lot more natural. The venerable style guide you know and love, the ap stylebook, is having a big birthday. Why this court decision hinged on the oxford comma atlas. Theres quite a bit of debate about whether or not to use the oxford comma, and it has its strong supporters as well as determined detractors. Oct 10, 2016 the app, grammarly, appears to favour the oxford comma as you can see in a recent blog post. A few words about that tenmilliondollar serial comma. The associated press, considered the authority for most american newsrooms, also generally comes out against the oxford comma. The oxford comma conundrum it may seem a wonder that all over the world, there remains a great divide as to whether or not the oxford comma should be used. Oxford comma definition and meaning collins english dictionary. It is considered by some as having a special relation to the disease.
April 27, 2017 april 26, 2017 angelamcrae 2 comments. It looks like its a joke, but i dont get why its funny or relevant. That final comma before the and in a list is called an oxford comma, or serial comma. The mayor said that his opponent was one of the worst candidates ever to run for office. Jul 08, 2011 the case for and against the oxford comma. Spiralbound book, updated each spring 2019 ap stylebook. Thatd be even more appropriate here because as the court notes p. If your meaning is ambiguous, the ambiguity can be clarified by either using the oxford comma or rearranging the sentence to clarify the meaning. When the last item in a series is connected by a coordinating conjunction e.
Ap stylethe style guide that newspaper reporters adhere todoes not require the use of the oxford comma. Sep 10, 2009 i also think adding in the oxford comma can mess with the flow of the sentence, when without it, it feels a lot more natural. This case backs up that habit as more than just an oldschool tic i havent yet let go. Feb 09, 2018 a judge ruled in the drivers favor last march, and it was all thanks to the lack of an oxford comma in a maine labor law. Ap style thats the associated press stylebook, which many journalists live by does not use an oxford comma. Mar 16, 2017 the associated press stylebook omits the oxford comma.
Ap style does not use the serial comma, while chicago style does. New yorklaw enforcement officials confirmed friday that four more copy editors were killed this week amid ongoing violence between two rival gangs divided by their loyalties to the the associated press stylebook and the chicago manual of style. Whats with all this oxford comma bullshit in profiles. Mar 17, 2014 that depends on whether youre for or against the oxford comma perhaps the most hotly contested punctuation mark of all time. Ap style requires that a comma follow these abbreviations. This is the assumption that leads to the sweeping statement and title of your blog.
Ron loved, trusted, had faith in and believed in his best friend harry, but couldnt help himself from feeling jealous of him too. Lack of oxford comma could cost maine company millions in. But very few people know the oxford commas history. Use of the oxford comma is stylistic, meaning that some style guides demand its use while others dont. Grant barrett, editor of the doubletongued dictionary, puts it this way. What they are and how to use them site title english grammar and use are the ap associated press and chicago manuals. The associated press stylebook omits the oxford comma. For the uninitiated, the oxford comma refers to the last comma in a list of thingshence, its other name, the serial comma. The app, grammarly, appears to favour the oxford comma as you can see in a recent blog post. The twoway an appeals court dispute between a maine dairy company and its delivery drivers came down to a single. If the oxford comma is, in fact, oxford, im the year. Mar 22, 2017 commenters on quartzs article seemed mostly in favor, declaring validation and i feel vindicated. If the oxford comma is, in fact, oxford, im the year you took off college to go chill with some maasai in.
The 2019 edition of the associated press stylebook and briefing on media law includes more than 200 new or revised entries, with chapters covering data journalism, business, fashion, food, religion and sports terms, as well as media law, news values, punctuation, social media, polls and surveys and a new chapter on health and science. Commenters on quartzs article seemed mostly in favor, declaring validation and i feel vindicated. The sentence above written in ap style would look like this. A few words about that tenmilliondollar serial comma the. Last years great comma debate, in which millions of dollars hinged on a missing piece of punctuation, has been resolved in a 2014 case that should have been called nitpickers v. Jun 21, 2016 whether you use the oxford comma or not and you absolutely should youll probably find yourself in a conversation about it eventually. Oxford comma you can have my oxford comma when you pry. The oxford comma, also known as the serial comma, refers to the comma that appears just after the penultimate item and before the coordinating. Mar 28, 2017 its often referred to as the oxford comma because, as oxford dictionaries explains, it was traditionally used by printers, readers, and editors at oxford university press. When i was a newspaper reporter earlier in my career, i was well acquainted with the associated press stylebook, which is the standard in the newspaper industry. Oxford style requires the use of the comma to avoid confusion, hence the name oxford comma. The oxford comma is the comma before the and in a list. Apr 15, 2012 the oxford comma also known as harvard comma or serial comma is the comma inserted just before the coordinating conjunction usually and or or, and sometimes nor in the last item of a list of three or more items. Oxford comma definition and meaning collins english.
Style guides tend to fall into two camps on the use of the oxford comma. There has never before been such widespread focus in the educational community on early childhood teacher quality, standards, and accountability scottlittle et al. Its often referred to as the oxford comma because, as oxford dictionaries explains, it was traditionally used by printers, readers, and editors at oxford university press. Your punctuation is on point, and so is your outfit, thanks to the lulus oxford comma black shirt dress. In english language punctuation, a serial comma, or series comma also called an oxford comma or harvard comma, is a comma placed immediately before the coordinating conjunction usually and or or in a series of three or more terms. As a diehard oxford comma loyalist, this ruling made my day. The oxford comma sometimes called the harvard comma but usually called a serial comma is the one that happens before. I notice it now almost as much as i notice zombie survival plans. Nothing, but nothingprofanity, transgender pronouns, apostrophe abuseexcites the passion of grammar geeks more than the serial, or oxford, comma. Nov 16, 2011 10 do not use a comma to separate a reflexive pronoun. Note the lack of oxford comma also known as the serial comma in the following. Dec 07, 2017 as ap stylebook lead editor paula froke told a roomful of colleagues this spring, the stylebook doesnt ban the use of a serial comma. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. So, apparently, did the late alan richman, who said, when im 80 years old and sitting in my rocking chair, ill be editing for the oxford comma.
One was a selfdescribed unwavering defender of the serial comma. The fact that your last sentence looks unnatural, despite having correct commas, is evidence that you shouldnt use an ampersand like that. The oxford comma or serial comma is a comma placed between the last two items in a series of three or more. Among those who came to watch the show were the presidents two daughters, bill clinton, and george bush. Lightweight fabric constructs this woven shirt dress with a collared neckline, short sleeves with button tabs, and front patch pockets. Here is an example of a serial comma used within a sentence. Whether you put it in at all times is a different debate. The real reason we care so deeply about the oxford comma quartz. Neither is right nor wrong, it is a matter of style. The case for and against the oxford comma the globe and. The same feature in word 2016 for perpetual licence and earlier versions of word is called comma required before last list item and has better choices.
Thats hardly a hardandfast declaration, but the oxford comma is divisive, as anyone whos served as a copy editor at a student newspaper. Mar 16, 2017 the oxford comma goes to court a court sided with delivery drivers in a labor dispute, after the drivers argued that the lack of an oxford comma in maines overtime rules entitled them to overtime. Great for listing, pontificating, and winning court cases. Jun 25, 2016 a comma like this, before the last item in a list of three or more items, is known as the oxford comma, as its an element of the house style of oxford university press. The oxford comma goes to court a court sided with delivery drivers in a labor dispute, after the drivers argued that the lack of an oxford comma in maines overtime rules entitled them to. The oxford comma, for all of you that dont know, is the comma that goes before the word and ina listtype sentence.
True, there is no comma setting off that last item, but there wed apply the rule of construction called we know people dont use the oxford comma when they should, and pretend there is one. The oxford comma, also known as the serial comma, refers to the comma that appears just. It is important to note that the ap style guide is just that. The new stylebook emphasizes that clarity is the bottom line. May 29, 20 the new ap stylebook will not end the oxford comma debate. A judge ruled in the drivers favor last march, and it was all thanks to the lack of an oxford comma in a maine labor law. While many of the sites i write for as a freelance blogger follow ap style including this one, which is sansserial comma, i still sneak one in when it seems needed to avoid potential confusion. The oxford comma, just like any other mark of punctuation, is only useful or helpful in so far as it is a tool so it really depends on the writers ability to deploy it appropriately. Either ap style must change to meet the needs of language, or newspapers should exercise leniency with its use in the name of communication. With worldclass production and customer support, your satisfaction is guaranteed.
That depends on whether youre for or against the oxford comma perhaps the most hotly contested punctuation mark of all time. Proponents of the oxford comma say its necessary to avoid potential ambiguity. Mar 17, 2017 nothing, but nothingprofanity, transgender pronouns, apostrophe abuseexcites the passion of grammar geeks more than the serial, or oxford, comma. The twoway an appeals court dispute between a maine dairy company and its delivery drivers came down to a. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Ive seen a lot of profiles over the years saying they like the oxford comma. Like, i think this sentence feels a lot better without the comma.
It is clear that the oxford comma is an important tool for this purpose. Oxford comma in word 2016 isnt as good office watch. A comma like this, before the last item in a list of three or more items, is known as the oxford comma, as its an element of the house style of oxford university press. Sep 22, 2011 this is the assumption that leads to the sweeping statement and title of your blog. An oxford comma is the comma used after the secondtolast item in a list. If the quotation is a full sentence, it should be preceded by a comma. Jan 28, 2008 grant barrett, editor of the doubletongued dictionary, puts it this way. At this time we have reason to believe the killings were gangrelated and carried out by adherents of both the ap and chicago styles, part of a. This is not a style change, but a clarification because the editors noted that some writers were confused. Whether you use the oxford comma or not and you absolutely should youll probably find yourself in a conversation about it eventually.
Serial comma also called the oxford comma, this term refers to a comma that separates the penultimate item in a list from the final item introduced by a conjunction and or or. Mar 16, 2017 the debate over commas is often a pretty inconsequential one, but it was anything but for the truck drivers. See more ideas about oxford, grammar humor and grammar and punctuation. Discover oxford comma tshirt, a custom product made just for you by teespring.
182 591 939 842 1127 764 1385 285 337 800 31 1542 1333 1101 172 83 433 327 468 65 969 1401 138 1101 556 1378 1010 1100 636 1350 316 229 386