May 29, 20 the new ap stylebook will not end the oxford comma debate. Oxford comma definition at, a free online dictionary with pronunciation, synonyms and translation. It is important to note that the ap style guide is just that. This is not a style change, but a clarification because the editors noted that some writers were confused. Should you use the oxford comma or become a serial comma killer. The horrified reaction to last weeks much retweeted, if inaccurate, claim that oxford university is abandoning the oxford comma was led by americans alarmed at. The oxford or serial comma is the final comma in a list of things. The oxford comma simply isnt required all the time, as it doesnt always add clarity. The oxford comma is still used in much of todays published writing.
Also known as a serial comma, an oxford comma is the comma between the penultimate and final items in a written list. The oxford comma, also known as the serial comma, refers to the comma that appears just. But news writing has traditionally omitted the serial comma perhaps seeking a more rapid feeling in the prose, or perhaps to save time and effort in the old days of manual typesetting. 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. One was a selfdescribed unwavering defender of the serial comma. Mar 16, 2017 or more accurately, the serial comma, also known as the oxford or harvard comma depending on where youre from, which comes after the penultimate item and before a conjunction in a series. If the oxford comma is, in fact, oxford, im the year you took off college to go chill with some maasai in. Ap style is to not include a comma before the conjunction in a simple series like the flag is red, white and blue. Should you use the oxford comma or become a serial comma. In maine, the muchdisputed oxford comma has helped a group of dairy drivers in a dispute with a company about overtime pay. Use of the oxford comma is stylistic, meaning that some style guides demand its use while others dont. The ap stylebook, the style bible of journalists and online writers, says not to use the oxford comma in a simple series unless its needed to prevent confusion. Back in the 1980s and into the 1990s, it was extremely rare for me to ever find any literature where the oxford comma was not normally. Although the normal style is to avoid the serial comma, use one if it is needed for clarity.
Why this court decision hinged on the oxford comma atlas. The university of oxford styleguide has decided that as a general rule use of the serial comma should be avoided. The twoway an appeals court dispute between a maine dairy company and its delivery drivers came down to a. The twoway an appeals court dispute between a maine dairy company and its delivery drivers came down to a single. 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.
It is also required by the chicago manual of style and mla style. Despite that, word 2016s oxford comma check will prompt you to add it. I can tell you why im an ardent user of the oxford comma in almost all instances. A few words about that tenmilliondollar serial comma. Yet people are often taught that they should always use it or never use it. The oxford commaalso called the serial comma and the harvard commais a regular source of confusion and angst. Spiralbound book, updated each spring 2019 ap stylebook. The new ap stylebook will not end the oxford comma debate. 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.
According to the wikipedia page for the oxford comma, use of the comma is consistent with conventional practice and use of the comma is inconsistent with conventional practice. 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. Ap style the style guide that newspaper reporters adhere todoes not require. Or more accurately, the serial comma, also known as the oxford or harvard comma depending on where youre from, which comes after the penultimate item and before a conjunction in a. Apr 30, 2019 the ap stylebook, the style bible of journalists and online writers, says not to use the oxford comma in a simple series unless its needed to prevent confusion. Only the associated press stylebook recommends against the oxford commas usage in a. Either ap style must change to meet the needs of language, or newspapers should exercise leniency with its use in the name of communication. The new stylebook emphasizes that clarity is the bottom line.
Mar 17, 2017 for want of a comma, a lawsuit lives on. I dont understand why people dont use the oxford comma. Although it is sold as a guide for reporters, it has become the leading reference. In many cases, the additional comma doesnt make any difference to understanding a sentence. The venerable style guide you know and love, the ap stylebook, is having a big birthday. Nov 01, 2017 according to the associated press stylebook, to which the emory wheel adheres, the oxford comma, which appears before the coordinating conjugation in a list, should be omitted. Ap stylebook, also known by its full name the associated press stylebook and briefing on media law, is an english grammar style and usage guide created by american journalists working for or connected with the associated press to standardize mass communication. Although it is sold as a guide for reporters, it has become the leading reference for most forms of publicfacing corporate. Oxford style requires the use of the comma to avoid confusion, hence the name oxford comma. According to the associated press stylebook, to which the emory wheel adheres, the oxford comma, which appears before the coordinating conjugation in a list, should be omitted. In favor of its use, the oxford comma primarily acts to clarify possible ambiguities that often pop up in the english language. Nothing, but nothingprofanity, transgender pronouns, apostrophe abuseexcites the passion of grammar geeks more than the serial, or oxford, comma. A few words about that tenmilliondollar serial comma the.
As a diehard oxford comma loyalist, this ruling made my day. Did the oxford comma come before its omission, or was the oxford comma traditionally omitted. Great for listing, pontificating, and winning court cases. Strunk and white simply say that a comma is to be used after each item except the last. I am totally in favor of the socalled oxford comma for all writing since it disambiguates otherwise ambiguous sentences. Anyway, pro comma people are not giving up without a fight.
Style guides for book and academic publishing generally would insist on another comma after pears, the socalled serial comma or oxford comma. It has become a sort of tribal badge of style, reinforced by whether your preferred authority prescribes it for example, the chicago manual of style strongly recommends it, while the ap stylebook says leave it out. More on the oxford comma in microsoft word office watch. Whether you use the comma is a matter of style, meaning that some style guides call for it and some dont. If i write, jack, jill, and romeo and juliet came, we realize that romeo and juliet somehow belong together, but if i write. The oxford comma or serial comma also known as the harvard comma, the oxford comma is the comma used between the penultimate item in a list and the and or or that connects it to the final item. May 29, 20 the new ap stylebook will not end the oxford comma debate more the venerable style guide you know and love, or maybe love to complain about, the ap stylebook, is having a big birthday. There is nothing like a two hour nap that will make you feel more refreshed. Commenters on quartzs article seemed mostly in favor, declaring validation and i feel vindicated. Mar 16, 2017 in maine, the muchdisputed oxford comma has helped a group of dairy drivers in a dispute with a company about overtime pay. Ap style thats the associated press stylebook, which many journalists live by does not use an oxford comma.
Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Thats hardly a hardandfast declaration, but the oxford comma is divisive, as anyone whos served as a copy editor at a student newspaper. 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. Redundancy and a little ambiguity are a couple reasons. When you run into a situation in which your choice suggests a misinterpretation of the sentence, rewrite it in another manner to avoid the confusion. In most cases, the times stylebook discourages the serial comma, often called the oxford comma because it was traditionally used by the oxford university press. The oxford comma, also known as the serial comma, refers to the comma that appears just after the penultimate item and before the coordinating. Thats the main argument against using the comma in every caseleaving it out often doesnt change anything. However, chicago style or the chicago manual of style, which is commonly used by book publishers, academics and trade publications does require an oxford comma. Only the associated press stylebook recommends against the oxford commas usage in a simple series.
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. Its usage generally differs depending on which side of the atlantic the author is sitting. Oxford comma helps drivers win dispute about overtime pay. Nov 12, 2019 the oxford comma is one of those ingroup niceties that some wordsmiths use to mark their editorial or writerly identities. The oxford comma or serial comma also known as the harvard comma, the oxford comma is the comma used between the penultimate item in a list and the and or or that connects it to the final item its usage generally differs depending on which side of the atlantic the author is sitting. Jan 31, 2014 strunk and white simply say that a comma is to be used after each item except the last. I didnt use a serial comma in that sentence, and there wasnt any confusion. If the oxford comma is, in fact, oxford, im the year. The particular kind of comma at issue is an oxford comma, which is the final comma in a list of items. This case backs up that habit as more than just an oldschool tic i havent yet let go. If the oxford comma is a prepster in chinos and a green lacoste polo, im a hipster in a dirty flannel shirt and skinny jeans. The oxford comma is the comma before the and in a list.
There are situations where use of the oxford comma will make or break a sentence choose a style and be consistent. Here it is, using a classic example from the gloss. 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. The oxford comma is used before the words and or or in a. Questions about the oxford comma are the most common. Feb 09, 2018 in most cases, the times stylebook discourages the serial comma, often called the oxford comma because it was traditionally used by the oxford university press. It makes logical sense that every item in a list would be separated in the same way. Opponents claim the comma is unnecessary and cite a certain clunkiness, whose offensiveness is apparently more important than ensuring clear and consistent language. The new ap stylebook will not end the oxford comma debate more the venerable style guide you know and love, or maybe love to complain about, the ap stylebook, is having a big birthday. Consequently, much of what you read on a daily basis will not use the oxford comma. The idea that the oxford comma is as advisable as storm windows has been a standard meme among literate americans since, especially, the publication of. Mar 17, 2017 nothing, but nothingprofanity, transgender pronouns, apostrophe abuseexcites the passion of grammar geeks more than the serial, or oxford, comma.
If my passion hasnt convinced you, and you still somehow think that the oxford comma is unimportant, i will now present a list of reasons to prove to you why were fighting so hard to keep it around. Mar 19, 2017 the idea that the oxford comma is as advisable as storm windows has been a standard meme among literate americans since, especially, the publication of william strunk and e. Mar 15, 2017 also known as a serial comma, an oxford comma is the comma between the penultimate and final items in a written list. Ap stylethe style guide that newspaper reporters adhere todoes not require. No newspaper is going to be shut down because they added an oxford comma in a sentence or wrote a date incorrectly. Jul 04, 2011 the horrified reaction to last weeks much retweeted, if inaccurate, claim that oxford university is abandoning the oxford comma was led by americans alarmed at this new threat to the special.
Whether you put it in at all times is a different debate. For example, a list of three countries might be punctuated either as france, italy and spain without the. Jun 23, 2015 style guides for book and academic publishing generally would insist on another comma after pears, the socalled serial comma or oxford comma. It seems like the oxford comma s days are numbered. 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. Watch the video to find out the judges ruling and see if that oxford comma came in to save the day for oconnor and his fellow drivers. Anyway, procomma people are not giving up without a fight. An oxford comma changed this court case completely cnn.
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. What they are and how to use them site title english grammar and use are the ap associated press and chicago manuals. That final comma before the and in a list is called an oxford comma, or serial comma. This is because traditionally, printed newspapers had space concerns when it came to adding text to a layout. However, the ap stylebook that is widely used in the journalism world does not use the oxford comma. The ap stylebook, the style bible of journalists and online writers. What are some examples that show the importance of the.
Jul 08, 2011 the case for and against the oxford comma. However, if the comma is necessary for clarity or if an integral part of the series includes a conjunction, it should be added. For example, the oxford style manual 2002 and the chicago manual of style 2003 support the mandatory use of the oxford comma, while the new york times stylebook and the economist style manual oppose it. Sat exam and oxford comma writing center underground. The case for and against the oxford comma the globe and mail. The oxford comma is one of those ingroup niceties that some wordsmiths use to mark their editorial or writerly identities.
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