Vampire Weekend once memorably sang words to the effect of ‘who gives a monkey’s about an Oxford comma?’. Well, we do, and the person reading and grading your paper will too! Although considered a slightly pretentious style device by some, the Oxford comma is in fact a useful tool in writing. It is sometimes needed in lists which would otherwise be ambiguous. It is so-called because it is a comma used in a way deemed acceptable by the style guide of the Oxford University Press. It is also sometimes known as the serial comma.
An Oxford comma is a comma used after the final ‘and’, ‘or’ or ‘nor’ in a sentence and is used like this:
‘The American flag is red, white, and blue’.
Although a final comma is not strictly necessary here, it can be used as a style device. Although stylish and useful in creating pauses, the Oxford comma is highly literary. Like all other conspicuous writing tools, use it sparingly for maximum impact.
Some grammar purists believe that conjunctions like the word ‘and’ should never be preceded by a comma. However, in some cases it is necessary. Take, for example, the sentence:
‘Miranda talked of her fears, her job and her family’.
Without an Oxford comma, the final two items in the list might be grouped together. The sentence could therefore imply that Miranda’s fears are her job and her family. The sentence with an Oxford comma looks like this:
‘Miranda talked about her fears, her job, and her family’.
This makes it clear that each item in the list is separate. A simple way to avoid confusion is to make sure that any plural item in a list is not the first item mentioned.
As ever, be sure to check your relevant style guide as some institutions have specific regulations regarding the use of the Oxford comma. Try not to use it too much as a style device but don’t hesitate to employ it in sentences which would be confusing without it!
If you would like any more grammar advice, or someone to look over and finesse your writing, get in touch with the professionals at Proofread My Paper today!
Ref : http://proofreadmypaper.com/resources/academic-blog/using-oxford-comma/
An Oxford comma is a comma used after the final ‘and’, ‘or’ or ‘nor’ in a sentence and is used like this:
‘The American flag is red, white, and blue’.
Although a final comma is not strictly necessary here, it can be used as a style device. Although stylish and useful in creating pauses, the Oxford comma is highly literary. Like all other conspicuous writing tools, use it sparingly for maximum impact.
Some grammar purists believe that conjunctions like the word ‘and’ should never be preceded by a comma. However, in some cases it is necessary. Take, for example, the sentence:
‘Miranda talked of her fears, her job and her family’.
Without an Oxford comma, the final two items in the list might be grouped together. The sentence could therefore imply that Miranda’s fears are her job and her family. The sentence with an Oxford comma looks like this:
‘Miranda talked about her fears, her job, and her family’.
This makes it clear that each item in the list is separate. A simple way to avoid confusion is to make sure that any plural item in a list is not the first item mentioned.
As ever, be sure to check your relevant style guide as some institutions have specific regulations regarding the use of the Oxford comma. Try not to use it too much as a style device but don’t hesitate to employ it in sentences which would be confusing without it!
If you would like any more grammar advice, or someone to look over and finesse your writing, get in touch with the professionals at Proofread My Paper today!
Ref : http://proofreadmypaper.com/resources/academic-blog/using-oxford-comma/