General thoughts on oxford comma8/23/2023 In a list of three or more items, the last comma is called the Oxford comma (or the serial comma). However, there’s one comma use that tends to complicate the issue even beyond our recess and lunch box years: the Oxford comma. 15 Success Habits of Professional Writers and Authors.Commas can separate items in a list-for most of us this is a grade-school lesson.Take Our Typing Speed Test and Prove It for Yourself How to Double or Triple Your Typing Speed.11 Writing Tips for Improving Readability and Communicating Better.Want to learn more writing tips? Check out these articles: What do you think about using the Oxford comma? Share your thoughts in the comments below! In the end, using the Oxford comma is stylistic, meaning not all style guides require it, so whether you follow it or not is entirely up to you-unless you’re thinking about inviting two rhinoceroses named Washington and Lincoln over for dinner. It’ll also save you from embarrassing mistakes that confuse the heck out of your readers like: When you get in the habit of always using the Oxford comma, it’ll save you an enormous amount of time and mental energy. I highly recommend you always use the Oxford comma unless you’re instructed not to by your boss or teacher.īecause it helps you avoid confusion far more often than you might think. I have since changed my mind after writing for over a decade and working with some really great editors. I used to think the Oxford comma was unnecessary in most cases, and that it really shouldn’t be used unless necessary. Now it makes sense … right? Please Use the Oxford Comma ![]() I like Slash, Betty White and my grandparents.On the other hand, people argue that sentences like the one stated above can easily be fixed by simply rearranging the nouns. See how a simple comma can make a huge difference in the meaning of a sentence? What the writer really meant was “I like my grandparents, I like Slash, and I like Betty White” but without the Oxford comma, the sentence means “I like my grandparents, and their names are Slash and Betty White.” ![]() While it sounds awesome to have Slash and Betty White as grandparents, we can easily see how removing the Oxford comma can create confusing and funny sentences. ![]() I like my grandparents, Slash and Betty White.Can you imagine drinking a glass of apple juice with bits of french toast in it? Yuck! Or maybe yum? You decide! Without the Oxford comma, the sentence could mean that french toast and apple juice refers to a single object. However, removing it may create some confusion. ![]() Unless you are writing for a newspaper or working on an essay for class, using the Oxford comma is entirely up to you.
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