The Oxford comma – sometimes referred to as the serial comma or Harvard comma – refers to a comma used between the last two items in a series of three or more items. The term “Oxford comma” was popularized in the 1970s, but the practice of using a comma before conjunctions in a list of items can be traced all the way back to the 19th century.
In fact, the Oxford University Press, which publishes the Oxford English Dictionary, has long been an advocate for using the comma. The Harvard Law Review also used the comma in its style guide from 1891 to 1905.
Nowadays, its usage is widely accepted in both British and American English. It provides clarity, eliminates ambiguity, and can help when listing complex items such as names.
Why is the Oxford comma so controversial?
The Oxford comma, also known as the serial comma, is a punctuation mark used to visually separate items in a list. Its controversy arises due to its lack of an established usage rule. Because it is not always used, it can be quite contentious.
For example, if you are writing an essay and decide to use an Oxford comma, while your professor might think this is perfectly fine, other people might suggest it is too ornamental and unnecessary.
The main source of disagreement when it comes to the Oxford comma tends to be between those who argue that it is unnecessary and those who argue that its lack of use can lead to confusion. For instance, some people might think that writing “cats, dogs and hamsters” implies that cats and dogs are one animal, while others would argue that the Oxford comma is necessary to clarify that there are three separate items—cats, dogs, and hamsters.
As a result, there is no definitive set of rules for when or when not to use the Oxford comma.
Ultimately, the Oxford comma is a stylistic decision that is up to the individual writer. Therefore, it is likely to continue to be controversial for the foreseeable future.
Why are people against Oxford comma?
The Oxford comma, also known as the “serial comma”, is the final comma used before the conjuction (usually “and” or “or”) in a list of three or more items. People are often against using the Oxford comma because they believe the comma adds an unnecessary extra beat to the flow of the sentence.
They also argue that the Oxford comma can lead to confusion in certain contexts, for example when two items in the list are closely related and could be misconstrued as a single item when separated by the comma.
Additionally, some people argue that using the Oxford comma can cause the sentence to seem overly long or even redundant, as the context of the sentence can often adequately explain the meaning without need for the comma.
Ultimately, the preference to use or not use the Oxford comma is based on personal preference and the context of one’s writing.
What is the big deal about the Oxford comma?
The Oxford comma is a punctuation mark that is used when listing three or more items in a series. It is also known as the serial comma or the Harvard comma. The Oxford comma is so-called because it was traditionally used by editors, printers, and writers at Oxford University Press.
The use of the Oxford comma is a subject of debate among writers, editors, and grammarians. Supporters of the Oxford comma argue that its use can help with clarity and can help in preventing ambiguity in a sentence.
For example, by using the Oxford comma, it can be clear that you mean “I invited my parents, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Oprah” instead of “I invited my parents, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Oprah. ” On the other hand, opponents of the Oxford comma argue that it is unnecessary and can actually lead to confusion.
Ultimately, whether or not you choose to use the Oxford comma is up to you. While some publications, such as the Chicago Manual of Style, require its use, others, such as the AP Style guide, advise against it.
Ultimately, any decision you make should be based on your audience and the style guidelines of your publication.
Why do Brits say inverted commas?
In the United Kingdom, inverted commas (also known as quotation marks, quotation marks and speech marks) are used to denote direct speech or quotes. This kind of punctuation has a long history and has been used since the 16th century in Britain.
The origin of using inverted commas is largely credited to British minister and scholar Hugh Broughton in the 1590s. He is credited with introducing a new style of punctuation, using inverted commas accompanied by periods, semicolons and colons.
Inverted commas are often used to indicate when a phrase or words are being directly quoted. For example, if a British person was to say “He said ‘I’m going to the store'”, the phrase “I’m going to the store” would be placed within inverted commas to signify that it was a direct quote from the person.
Similarly, if a British person was to write something, such as a newspaper article, and wanted to quote someone directly, the words would be put into inverted commas.
Inverted commas are an important part of the British English writing tradition and are used extensively across all types of writing, from literature to journalism. As a result, they are an important part of the culture, helping to preserve the unique language and history of British English.
Does London England need a comma?
Yes, London, England typically requires a comma because it is a proper noun that is used to identify a specific city. Additionally, a comma is typically used in order to introduce the name of a city, state, country, or other geographical area when it is mentioned in a sentence.
For example, “I am traveling to London, England, this summer. ” In this example, all three of these parts, London, England, and this summer, are all separated by a comma.
Does the US Government Printing Office use Oxford comma?
Yes, the US Government Printing Office (GPO) does use the Oxford comma. The GPO Style Manual (8th Edition) recommends the use of the Oxford comma in order to ensure clarity in writing and to make sure that elements in a series are properly identified.
The GPO Style Manual states that in lists of three or more elements, the elements that follow a comma should be preceded by a semicolon or by the word “and” (or its equivalent in other languages). Given that the Oxford comma is placed after the penultimate element of a series before the concluding “and” or “or,” this means that the GPO does in fact use the Oxford comma.
How do you punctuate legal documents?
Punctuation is an important part of legal documents. It helps readers quickly identify what is important and provides context to the text. The most common types of punctuation used in legal documents are periods, commas, semicolons, colons, and parentheses.
When using periods in a legal document, they typically indicate the end of a sentence. Commas and semicolons are often used to separate clauses, while colons often indicate the beginning of an explanation.
Parentheses are typically used to set off supplemental information or to explain access rules. Additionally, there are specific rules for the writing of legal documents that dictate the use of punctuation in certain areas.
For example, citations must be in parentheses and all quotations must be surrounded by quotation marks. In addition to punctuation, legal documents must also be written in a clear, precise and organized manner, as any ambiguity can potentially create litigation.
Proper grammar and punctuation are just part of the job when authoring a legal document.
Are commas used in legal documents?
Yes, commas are commonly used in legal documents, along with other punctuation marks such as periods, colons, and semicolons. Commas are often used to separate independent clauses in legal writing, to enclose parenthetical phrases, and to form lists.
Additionally, commas help to clarify complex sentence structures and indicate when a list is incomplete. The use of commas can often help to eliminate ambiguity in legal writing, which is why they are widely used in legal documents.
Is the Oxford comma the same as the Harvard comma?
No, the Oxford comma and the Harvard comma are two different terms. The Oxford comma is sometimes called the serial comma, and it is used to separate items in a series of three or more. For example, in the sentence “I bought apples, oranges, and bananas,” the Oxford comma would be placed after “oranges”.
The Harvard comma, on the other hand, is a way of differentiating between two items that are closely related. For example, if you wanted to make a distinction between “fruit and vegetables” you could use the Harvard comma and write “fruit, and vegetables”.
This usage is not common, and is primarily found in academic writing.