Grammar and style the word on college reading and writing. When a comma is used before the conjunction in a list, it is known as an oxford comma. Id also argue that instead of making a decision on a case by case basis as to whether you need a serial comma, its much easier just. There are cases in which the use of the serial comma can avoid ambiguity see resolving ambiguity and also instances in which its use can introduce ambiguity see creating ambiguity. However, if your organization advocates the oxford comma, use a comma.
Each chicago style workout focuses on a small part of. As weve said before on our blog, a final comma before and can make a sentence clearer. Each entry starts with a simple explanation and basic examples before moving to reallife, entertaining examples. Some people frown about this use, but the idea behind a serial comma is to remove any ambiguity. Gallando the wizard is having a hard time figuring out why his spells arent working right, and he needs your help. Even without the final serial comma, the sentence is grammatically correct. Here are the facts of the case, for those who may have been. A serial comma, or oxford comma, is when you place a comma before the conjunction joining the last two items in a series of three or more elements. In the us, the oxford comma also called the serial comma is standard. Serial comma definition of serial comma by merriamwebster. Id also argue that instead of making a decision on a case by case basis as to whether you need a serial comma, its much easier just to make it a habit, then theres no question. Martin, in that case, you would use a comma anyway, which is the core of my decision. A comma marks a slight break between different parts of a sentence. With the exception of newspapers, most publications use the serial comma, because it helps writers avoid ambiguity.
The comma may be omitted in short compound sentences. Serialcomma rule red, white, and blue this article is about serialcomma rule red, white, and blue enjoy your reading. An appeals court dispute between a maine dairy company and its delivery drivers came down to a single punctuation mark or rather, the lack. According to the website box office mojo, the topgrossing movies of all time in the united states are currently avatar, titanic, and the dark knight. You should even place a comma between the last two, although some writing style guidelines now omit this comma. Perhaps no mark of punctuation ruffles feathers more than the serial comma also called series comma, oxford comma, and harvard comma. No commas with which, that and who grammar monster. You may have an intuitive understanding of comma usage based on these two ideas. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Serial commas and serial semicolons by erika suffern serial commas.
The oxford comma is falling a little bit out of fashion. To add to what melissa said, people who dont use the. For example, in he bought eggs, milk, and bread, theres a comma between each item listed the comma before and is the oxford comma. The final comma in those last two sentences, the one just before and, can be left out.
Dec 30, 2010 the serial comma is also sometimes called the oxford comma because its used by oxford university press or the harvard comma because its used by harvard university press, but i find these names misleading because so many other publications also use the serial comma. Serial commas and serial semicolons the mla style center. Commas before conjunctions and, or, but grammar monster. This text isnt meant to be a grammar and style handbook, but we know that many writers. The serial comma is an extra comma you will often see placed before andor in us based english. With the exception of newspapers, most publications use the serial comma, because it helps writers. It doesnt matter whether those items are nouns, gerund, adjectives, or more complicated terms. Whether you have a specific question about comma usage or youre staring at a page. But style guides that typically do not use the serial comma make exceptions to. Use a comma to separate items in a list but beware of the serial comma. Learn grammar commas with free interactive flashcards. In the us or if youre an advocate for the oxford comma, then a comma would be expected after sing. Imagine, for a moment, that you have just finished doing three chores. Used properly, commas make the meaning of sentences clear by grouping and separating words, phrases, and clauses.
Smashing grammar 2019 written by the founder of grammar monster, smashing grammar includes a glossary of grammar essentials from apostrophes to zeugma and a chapter on easily confused words from affecteffect to whetherif. In academic culture, we still use the serial or oxford comma, so even punctuation rules have a rhetorical context. On one side of the battlefield are those in favor the oxford or serial comma, which is endorsed by oxford university press and the chicago manual of style. The comma before the conjunction is known as an oxford comma, and it is. Rules for comma usage guide to grammar and writing. According to the document with reference number 912345. Martha kolln commas are like substitutes in this case.
Mar 17, 2017 while advocates of the serial comma are happy for the truck drivers victory, it was actually the lack of said comma that won the day. Serial comma definition is a comma used to separate the secondtolast item in a list from a final item introduced by the conjunction and or or called also harvard comma, oxford comma. Mar 15, 2004 even without the final serial comma, the sentence is grammatically correct. In a list of three or more items, the last comma is called the oxford comma or the serial comma. The serial comma rule is a style for presenting items in a list. Your list might be made up of nouns, as in the example above, but it could also be made up of verbs, adjectives, or clauses. It goes by serial and oxford, for the oxford university press style guide, which advocates for the serial comma even though its generally. Use a serial comma also called an oxford comma, harvard comma, or series comma between elements in a series of three or more items. On one side, fierce partisans of the serial comma, who insist that it must routinely be used to repel the scourge of ambiguity. You have to decide on a flavor of english that isnt cookie dough, because each flavor has a different ruling on the use of the serial comma. Whats cool about knowing that is it gives you options. This week, well dig deeper and get to know some of their jobs.
A difference exists between the musical works of handel and haydn, and it is a difference worth noting. The following are simple examples of serial commas. This note is about commas not semicolons, but it will affect how you punctuate your lists. Newspapers tend to omit the serial comma, probably due to space restrictions. This entry was posted on monday, april 3rd, 2017 at 4. They might be frustrating little monsters most of the time, but without. To add to what melissa said, people who dont use the serial comma believe that the comma means and. British english vs american english the serial comma.
Plus other fun grammar stuff want to become better at critical thinking. You may have learned that the comma before the and is unnecessary, which is fine if youre in control of th. The oxford or serial comma is the final comma in a list of things. Another classic defense of the serial comma is in this construction. See the definition of commas in grammar monsters list of grammar terms and. While advocates of the serial comma are happy for the truck drivers victory, it was actually the lack of said comma that won the day. Also, if breaking convention makes your text clearer, then break convention. Commas can be used after the setting the scene for a sentence, after transitional. When i see too many commas, i turn into an enormous green ragemonster.
The serial comma also known as the oxford comma is the optional comma used before the last and in a list of items. A serial comma simply means that a comma will separate each element in a series of three or more, even before the coordinating conjunctions and and before or. Aug 31, 2019 thats called a serial comma, which separates the last two items in a list. I am a big fan of the serial comma, and i think that it provides necessary precision in instances where a lack of punctuation might lead to misinterpretation of which entries near the end of the series go with which. To call this usage the oxford comma seems a bit of americentric legerdemain. A comma separates elements in a sentence, such as items in a list or series, but it also shows that those elements are connected to each other within the same sentence. In short, aps stance is to omit the serial comma except when it prevents misreading, and chicagos stance is to always include itfor the same reason. Jul 20, 2011 here weve used a comma before each and. The overwhelming general consensus among the grammar police is that the serial comma is required in formal and business writing.
For example, a list of three countries might be punctuated either as france, italy and spain without the serial comma or france, italy, and spain with the. Mar 22, 2017 it goes by serial and oxford, for the oxford university press style guide, which advocates for the serial comma even though its generally more common in american english usage than. The top style manuals follow the serial comma rule. Factors of personality include extraversion, conscientiousness, openness to experience, agreeableness, and neuroticism. Should you use the oxford comma or become a serial comma. This is sometimes called the serial comma or oxford comma, and though it isnt required, we think its a good idea. Thats called a serial comma, which separates the last two items in a list. One use of the comma is to separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses in a list or series. This grammar lesson offers an explanation on the correct use of commas and gives examples of commas used in sentences. Todays workout zeroes in on the section of the manual called series and the serial comma, specifically sections 6.
Ielts task 1 and 2, using commas, 12 rules to follow. The comma before the and in a list of three or more items is optional. You can follow any responses to this entry through the rss 2. It is recommended that the comma be used cautiously and wisely. Not all style guides agree on whether to use the oxford comma. Grammar, serial comma this entry was posted on monday, april 3rd, 2017 at 4. Emily brewster, associate editor at merriamwebster explains. The serial comma merriamwebster ask the editor youtube. A comma is never used as an end mark, and it is read with a shorter pause than an end mark.
But i would argue that if you care about clarity, then you need to care about the serial comma. This last commathe one between the word and and the preceding wordis often called the serial comma or the oxford comma. Oct 08, 2019 martin, in that case, you would use a comma anyway, which is the core of my decision. A few words about that tenmilliondollar serial comma the. Are the serial comma and the oxford comma the same thing. Although the serial comma isnt always necessary, i favor it because often it does add clarity, and i believe in having a simple, consistent style, instead of trying to decide whether you need something on a casebycase basis.
I also think using the serial comma makes even simple lists easier to read. Patti and her friends are debating about the serial commathe comma that comes before the final conjunction in a list. Despite the fact that it is recommended by the oxford university press style manual, most writers of. This comma precedes the final item in a list or series, before the word and or or. 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. In fact, any grammar rule that is cumbersome or complicated is pretty certain to eventually fizzle out notice.
Advocates of the serial comma include me and pretty much every other copy editor i know, fowler and strunk and white. I have seen my best friend skiing, flying, and crashing. When any of the items in the series contains a conjunction, the absence of the serial comma can mean trouble. Whether to use the serial comma is a style issue, which is why patti and her. Use a comma to separate items in a series three or more things. Use of the oxford comma is stylistic, meaning that some style guides demand its use while others dont. One such thing is the serial comma, a naughty little comma that has become the subject of much debate across the web and between publishing houses worldwide.
He hit the ball, dropped the bat, and ran to first base. Mar 21, 2017 why dont they call it the merriamwebster comma. All the editors i knew in the 1970s1980s1990s called this the serial comma and all knew that its use was a style decision which must be based on context. In this immersive grammar game, kids help gallando figure out where commas belong in a series to help him correctly complete his spells. I am going to europe to visit my cousins, queen elizabeth, and the pope. Full of hilarious imagery, this silly story is the perfect way to engage even the most. Separates the clauses of a compound sentence connected by a coordinating conjunction.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. For example, the following sentence uses the serial comma. By inserting a comma before the and, you clarify for the reader that queen elizabeth and the pope are not your cousins. The serial comma is after the word cheese and before the first and. Here are some examples of correctly using the serial comma. The serial comma also known as the oxford comma or listing. Use an oxford comma or it can be referred to as theserial comma, to.
Using commas grammar and punctuation grammar monster. You may have learned that the comma before the and is unnecessary, which is fine if youre in control of things. Whats the harvard comma, and how many nonharvard alumni use that term. Chicago, being twice as long as ap, has twice as much to say on this subject and offers several more variations of proper serialcomma usage on which the ap is mum 6. Apr 03, 2011 serial comma definition is a comma used to separate the secondtolast item in a list from a final item introduced by the conjunction and or or called also harvard comma, oxford comma. Its time for a field trip to one of grammars third rails the question of whether or not to use a serial or oxford comma. A few words about that tenmilliondollar serial comma. The serial comma is the one before and in a series of three or more things.
When you join three or more elements in a series, put a comma before the conjunction usually and or or. Commas are a touchy subject, having divided writers of the english language into two distinct camps for many years. Learn about the seven coordinating conjunctions and how and when to use them. Choose from 500 different sets of grammar commas flashcards on quizlet. My favorite cereals are cheerios, raisin bran, and shredded wheat. The boots came in black, brown, black and gray, tan and brown and wine. Use a comma to separate the elements in a series three or more things, including the last two. But style guides that typically do not use the serial comma make exceptions to handle such instances. Home style and grammar guidelines punctuation serial comma.
Love it or hate it, the serial comma arouses strong feelings. An oxford comma is a comma used before the conjunction typically and before the last list item in a list of three or more items. But since its absence can sometimes change your meaning, and since theres no harm in leaving it in, my advice is to stick with using the final comma in. Serial commas again grammar underground with june casagrande. Do not put your own commas in serial numbers, reference numbers, or 4figure years. People typically call that comma before the and the oxford comma, also known as the serial comma. 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. For a simple list, howevereven if it is introduced by a colona comma is preferred. Atlantic readers and staffers debate the value of the serial comma, the limits of wordplay, and. Commas can be used after the setting the scene for a sentence, after transitional phrases, after interjections, before conjunctions, for parentheses, after a long subject, in lists, and with the vocative case.
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