Why the Oxford comma is wrong?

Why the Oxford comma is wrong?

Oxford commas are the galoshes of grammar: sometimes necessary to avoid a mess, but never elegant. Mandating the Oxford comma is inimical to good writing. Just as we omit unnecessary words, so too should we excise excess punctuation.

Is the Oxford comma correct?

An Oxford, or serial, comma is the last comma in a list; it goes before the word “and.” Technically, it’s grammatically optional in American English. However, depending on the list you are writing out, omitting it can lead to some confusion.

Why does AP style not use the Oxford comma?

Use of the Oxford comma is stylistic, meaning that some style guides demand its use while others don’t. AP Style—the style guide that newspaper reporters adhere to—does not require the use of the Oxford comma. The sentence above written in AP style would look like this: Please bring me a pencil, eraser and notebook.

Which style guides use Oxford comma?

Certain style guides require you to use the Oxford Comma, like the Oxford Style Manual, Chicago Manual of Style, and the MLA Style Manual. So if you’re writing for editors who conform to one of these styles guides, you’ll want to include the Oxford Comma.

What is the opposite of Oxford comma?

Opinions among writers and editors differ on whether to use the serial comma, and usage also differs somewhat between regional varieties of English. British English allows constructions with or without this comma, while in American English it is common and sometimes even considered mandatory to use the comma.

Is the Oxford comma required in MLA?

Even in a poorly written sentence, the Oxford comma ensures that the meaning is clear. The Modern Language Association (MLA), American Psychological Association (APA), Chicago Manual of Style (CMS), and Oxford University Press all support the Oxford comma.

When did the Oxford comma become optional?

The Oxford comma has been attributed to Horace Hart, printer and controller of the Oxford University Press from 1893 to 1915, who wrote Hart’s Rules for Compositors and Readers in 1905 as a style guide for the employees working at the press. However, at that time, the comma was not called the Oxford comma.

When should you not use an Oxford comma?

Don’t switch back and forth in the same document between using the Oxford comma and not using it. By the way, this rule only applies to lists of three or more items. You should not use a comma before and if you’re only mentioning two qualities.

Is it grammatically correct to put a comma before and?

1. Use a comma before any coordinating conjunction (and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet) that links two independent clauses. You may need to learn a few grammatical terms to understand this one.

How do you use a comma with three names?

Rule 1. Use commas to separate words and word groups in a simple series of three or more items. Example: My estate goes to my husband, son, daughter-in-law, and nephew. Note: When the last comma in a series comes before and or or (after daughter-in-law in the above example), it is known as the Oxford comma.

What does comma mean?

A comma is a punctuation mark that indicates a pause in a sentence or separates items in a list. A comma is also used before the words “and” or “but” to join two independent clauses.

Does 1000 need a comma?

1000 or one thousand is the natural number following 999 and preceding 1001. In most English-speaking countries, it is often written with a comma separating the thousands unit: 1,000.

What is another word for comma?

What is another word for comma?

semicolon	colon
period	punctuation
punctuation mark

Do you need a comma before speech marks?

Do commas and periods go inside or outside quotation marks? Commas and periods always go inside the quotation marks in American English; dashes, colons, and semicolons almost always go outside the quotation marks; question marks and exclamation marks sometimes go inside, sometimes stay outside.

Do full stops go inside speech marks?

Should the full stop be inside the closing quotation mark or outside it? Well, in US English, the full stop goes inside the closing quotation mark in this sentence. In British English, it is placed outside. Users of US English place the comma in the following sentence inside the closing quotation marks.

Do full stops go inside brackets?

When a passage within round brackets is at the end of a sentence, of which it is only a part, place the full stop after the closing bracket. However, when the bracketed passage is a complete sentence, place the full stop before the opening bracket and then add a second full stop before the closing bracket.

What are the four key rules of punctuating speech?

Each line of speech starts with a capital. The line of speech ends with a comma, exclamation mark or question mark. A reporting clause is used at the end (said Jane, shouted Paul, replied Mum). A full stop goes after the reporting clause.

Where does the comma go in direct speech?

Use a comma after the introductory clause. Example: She said, “I was in London last year.” If the direct speech is at the beginning of the sentence, put the comma before the final quotation mark.

Do you put a comma after he said?

A. Commas commonly appear before quotation marks—for instance, there is a strong convention of using a comma after expressions like “He said” or “She asked.” There may be a widespread belief that the comma is required before a quotation, although there isn’t necessarily a grammatical reason for one.

What comes first full stop or inverted commas?

For the relative placing of quotation marks and punctuation, follow Hart’s rules. Thus, if an extract ends with a full stop or question-mark, put the punctuation before the closing inverted commas.

Where does the full stop go after a quote?

The Telegraph style guide advises simply that quotes introduced with a colon end with the full stop inside the quotation mark: “Like this.” Quotes without a colon end with the quotation mark inside the full stop, “like this”.

Where do you put inverted commas in a sentence?

Inverted commas are punctuation marks that are used in writing to show where speech or a quotation begins and ends. They are usually written or printed as ‘ ‘ or “ ”. Inverted commas are also sometimes used around the titles of books, plays, or songs, or around a word or phrase that is being discussed.

Why are single inverted commas used?

Single inverted commas (in British English) are mainly used to: mark the beginning and end of direct speech (i.e. a speaker’s words written down exactly as they were spoken). EXAMPLE: ‘What time does the lecture begin?’ indicate a technical or otherwise potentially unfamiliar word.

What is inverted comma used for?

Inverted commas are punctuation marks used to show where speech or a quotation begins and ends. In American English, inverted commas are called quotation marks. In British English, we use single marks more often than the double marks.

What does an inverted comma mean?

Inverted commas are used to show where direct speech or a quotation begins and ends in a sentence. There are single and double quotation marks which are printed as’ ‘ or “ ”. Sometimes, inverted commasare used to define the play, song or book that’s being spoken about.

Do you use inverted commas for titles?

The rules for quotation marks around titles vary depending on which style guide you follow. In general, you should italicize the titles of long works, like books, movies, or record albums. Use quotation marks for the titles of shorter pieces of work: poems, articles, book chapters, songs, T.V. episodes, etc.

How do you insert an inverted comma in Word?

Smart quotes in Word

1. On the File tab, click Options.
2. Click Proofing, and then click AutoCorrect Options.
3. In the AutoCorrect dialog box, do the following: Click the AutoFormat As You Type tab, and under Replace as you type, select or clear the “Straight quotes” with “smart quotes” check box.
4. Click OK.

What is the difference between single and double inverted commas?

In common usage, there may be a distinction between the single and double quotation marks in this context; often, single quotation marks are used to embrace single characters, while double quotation marks enclose whole words or phrases[.]

What do you call a single quotation mark?

Quotation marks can be used in two styles; single (‘ ‘ or ‘) or double (“ ” or “), and can also appear in two different typefaces; either as so called dumb or straight quotes (‘ or “) or as smart quotes (‘ ‘ or “ ”). Read more about quotation marks at Wikipedia.