What is the Oxford comma between two items? (2023)

What is the Oxford comma between two items?

Also known as a serial comma, the Oxford comma falls before the word 'and' in a list of three or more. This creates a slight pause before the last item in the list, making it clear that each part of the list (in this case 'my dogs,' 'Steven,' and 'Mary') is a separate item.

Can you use Oxford comma for two items?

Please note: You never use an Oxford comma if the list only contains two items, except if it is to stop confusion. However, if there is confusion: I love the music of Buddy Holly and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

What is the Oxford comma in a list of items?

The Oxford comma (also known as the serial comma or Harvard comma) is the use of a comma before the conjunction in a list of three or more items (e.g., the comma before “and” in “paints, brushes, and canvas”). The name comes from the fact that it's recommended by Oxford University Press.

What is the comma rule between two items in a list?

So the rules are clear: Use a listing comma in a list wherever you could conceivably use the word and (or or) instead. Do not use a listing comma anywhere else. Put a listing comma before and or or only if this is necessary to make your meaning clear.

What is an Oxford comma example?

The Oxford (or serial) comma is the final comma in a list of things. Please bring me a pencil, eraser, and notebook. The Oxford comma is the one right after eraser. The use of the Oxford comma is a matter of style, meaning that some publishing styles stipulate its use while others don't.

Why is the Oxford comma controversial?

The use of the Oxford comma, many people argue, is overly pedantic, and in some situations, its use can sound pompous and hypercorrect. It is usually perfectly possible to discern the meaning of a sentence without it.

Do you put a comma after each item in a list?

When making a list, commas are the most common way to separate one list item from the next. The final two items in the list are usually separated by "and" or "or", which should be preceeded by a comma. Amongst editors this final comma in a list is known as the "Oxford Comma".

What is the Oxford comma in three items?

When joining three or more items in a list, use commas to distinguish the words, phrases, or clauses in the series. Be sure to use an Oxford comma before the conjunction.

Do you put a comma after every item in a list?

Commas should be used when three or more items in a series are listed. A comma should be placed between each of the three items (it is also acceptable to leave out the comma between the second-to-last item and the last item in the series). Items in the series may consist of a word, clause, or phrase.

Do you put a comma before and when listing two things?

The Oxford comma, also called a serial comma, precedes "and" before the last item in a list. To use an Oxford comma, there should be three or more items in a list. If there are only two items, you do not need a serial comma before "and."

What is an example of a comma that separate items in a list?

Commas are used to separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses in a series. This means that when three or more items are being listed in a sentence, a comma goes between each item in the list. For example: John went to the grocery store and bought bread, milk, butter, macaroni and cheese.

Do you put a comma before and in a list of 2?

The comma before “and” (or comma before “or”) at the end of a list is optional. It's referred to as an Oxford comma or serial comma. Most academic style guides recommend adding it (“salt, pepper, and paprika”). But it's also not a grammatical error to write a list without it (“salt, pepper and paprika”).

Why do people like the Oxford comma?

Proponents say it provides clarity, and critics say it provides redundancy. It goes by “serial” and “Oxford,” for the Oxford University Press style guide, which advocates for the serial comma (even though it's generally more common in American English usage than British English).

How is an Oxford comma different from other?

The Rules:

Commas are used to set off three or more items in a list. The final comma before the conjunction is known as a serial, or Oxford comma. Using an Oxford comma is a stylistic choice, not a rule; however, most style guides still require the use of the Oxford comma to avoid confusion.

What is an example of an Oxford comma ambiguity?

When we add an Oxford comma, we actually end up with a more ambiguous meaning: “Joe went to the store with his father, Superman, and Wonder Woman.” Now it reads as if Joe's father might be Superman. The Oxford comma has introduced exactly the type of ambiguity that it helped remove in the original example!

What is the difference between with and without an Oxford comma?

The comma before “and” (or comma before “or”) at the end of a list is optional. It's referred to as an Oxford comma or serial comma. Most academic style guides recommend adding it (“salt, pepper, and paprika”). But it's also not a grammatical error to write a list without it (“salt, pepper and paprika”).

Should I use Oxford comma on resume?

Should you use the Oxford comma in your resume or stick with standard American usage? Not everyone is a fan of the Oxford comma, but it can help to clear up ambiguity in lists, as we see in that linked legal case. But whatever you decide, be consistent throughout your resume and cover letter.

Why do people want to get rid of the Oxford comma?

While the serial comma does help clarify lists, it can interfere with good sentence composition and flow. Many journalists are against it for this reason. Some even argue that it makes for lazy writing or clutters the piece with unnecessary punctuation.

Does anyone use the Oxford comma anymore?

While some writing style guides do not use this comma, supporters say it's necessary to avoid potential ambiguity. And if there's one thing writers can agree on, it's the importance of clarity. In some cases, an extra comma matters.

Why people don t like Oxford comma?

Here are two possible reasons. First, journalists never use it because the Oxford comma takes up space on a page, and that costs money. The second reason is that many people were told in school that the Oxford comma is wrong, and they hold on to what they've been told.

When not to use a comma?

What is an example of a gapping comma?

A gapping comma indicates that you have decided not to repeat some words which have already occurred in the sentence: Jupiter is the largest planet and Pluto, the smallest.

What is an interrupter in grammar?

An interrupter is a word, phrase, or clause that significantly breaks the flow of a sentence. Read these examples: Please take those smelly socks to the garage, Kris, and put them in the washing machine. My essay, to be perfectly honest, flew out the bus window while I was on my way to school.

What is the rule 3 comma?

Comma Rule 3 probably doesn't sound like fun, but it is. It goes by some boring and very technical names (appositive, non-restrictive clause, interrupter). The basic idea, though, is easy: Use a pair of commas when your voice drops. One comma takes your voice down, and another brings your voice back up.

How do you punctuate a list of items in a sentence?

Punctuation for Lists of Items Within a Sentence

Use commas after each item in a list of three or more items. Nurses monitor a patient's vital signs including temperature, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and pulse. Use semi-colons after each item in a list if one or more items already includes a comma.

Do you put a comma before or in a list of 3?

Should you use a comma before or? The answer depends on how you are using or. Always place a comma before or when it begins an independent clause, but if it begins a dependent clause, don't. In a series (or list) of three or more items, you can use a comma before or, but this is a preference, not a rule.

Do you put a comma or semicolon between list items?

commas if the list is simple, such as a list of single words. semicolons if the list is complex, such as a list of items that already contain commas or conjunctions.

When did the Oxford comma become a thing?

The big shift in this thinking came in 1905, when a printer named Horace Hart updated his style guide for Oxford University Press, requiring his employees to use a comma before the last item in a series.

How do I separate two items in a list?

Use a semicolon to separate items in a list in cases where one or more of the items contains commas or other punctuation. Usually, we use a comma to separate three items or more in a list.

How do you separate items in a list when commas alone would be confusing?

How do you separate items by comma?

Use commas to separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses written in a series. Example: George traveled to Spain, France, and Germany.

What is the controversial comma?

The Oxford Companion to the English Language notes: "Usage varies as to the inclusion of a comma before and in the last item. ... This practice is controversial and is known as the serial comma or Oxford comma, because it is part of the house style of Oxford University Press."

Is The Oxford comma the same as the Harvard comma?

The serial comma, also known as the Oxford comma or the Harvard comma (because the Oxford and Harvard University Press style guides require it), is the final comma before the coordinating conjunction “and” in a list of three or more items.

What is the difference between Oxford and Cambridge comma?

In its own text, the guide by Cambridge omits serial commas; Oxford's retains them. So for British English, use serial commas or omit them, but do so consistently. And if you go without, make sure to add a comma wherever its absence might create ambiguity.

What is an example of a Gandhi Oxford comma?

With the Oxford comma: “I admire my parents, Gandhi, and Mother Teresa.” Without the Oxford comma: “I admire my parents, Gandhi and Mother Teresa.” If we leave out the Oxford comma we invalidate the entire sentence. Not only do we rob it of its meaning, we give it a new meaning that's entirely inaccurate.

What is the power of the Oxford comma?

One of the main reasons for using the Oxford comma is to remove ambiguity. It also eliminates the possibility that the reader will make a stronger connection between the last two items in the list than actually exists or is intended. Here are some examples which illustrate those arguments.

Can you have a sentence with 2 commas?

Use two commas, not one, to set off a nonrestrictive clause in the middle of a sentence. Incorrect: The city, a polyglot of different races and religions provided many opportunities for cultural exchange. Correct: The city, a polyglot of different races and religions, provided many opportunities for cultural exchange.

Is it OK to have 2 commas in a sentence?

Here's the rule as written in The Chicago Manual of Style: “Whenever a comma is placed before an element to set it off from the surrounding text … a second comma is required if the phrase or sentence continues beyond the element being set off.”

Can you have two sets of commas in a sentence?

Sentences that include lists of items will often have three or more commas. This is one of the only times you will see more than two commas in one sentence. Commas can separate items, phrases, and clauses.

Do you need a comma for two nouns?

In the United States it is common to put a comma after every noun except the last one, as in the following sentences: I'm having cookies, candies, cake, and soft drinks. She bought eggs, milk, and cheese. The boy put away his trucks, his books, his blocks, and his stuffed animals.

What is a parenthetical comma?

Rule 5: Parenthetical phrases (non-essential phrases) Use a pair of commas to set off parenthetical phrases (non-essential elements) in a complete sentence. In other words, non-essential elements are phrases that can be removed from the sentence and the sentence still makes sense without it.

What is an example of a comma splice sentence?

A comma splice error occurs when sentences or independent clauses are improperly connected by a comma alone. Examples of Comma Splice Errors: The clouds were dark, we thought it would rain. I bought a coat, however, it did not fit.

What are the 8 rules for commas with examples?

Commas should be used after coordinating conjunctions, after an introductory clause, and to separate items in a list. Additionally, commas can enclose nonessential parts of a sentence, separate appositives, and indicate a direct address. Finally, commas are used to clarify quotations in a dialogue and to write dates.

What is it called when you use too many commas?

AVOID “comma splices”:

In order to separate two independent clauses, you should not use a comma UNLESS you also use a coordinating conjunction. Too many commas in a sentence may make your writing clunky and difficult for the reader to follow.

What is too many commas in a sentence?

If you have sentences like, "Bob walked, to, the store, slowly" then yes, there are too many commas. But a sentence that contains a list could legitimately have many commas. Like, "He found a bottle, three coins, two keys, a small metal box, a pack of matches, some scraps of paper, and a patridge in a pear tree."

How do you punctuate two clauses?

Rules. Separate independent clauses with a comma when using a coordinating conjunction (e.g., and, but, or, for, nor, so, yet). Separate independent clauses with a semicolon when not using a coordinating conjunction.

How do you use two nouns in one sentence?

Yes, you can use two nouns together in a sentence, as in your example "This place has a mystic aura that captivates me." Yes, mystic can be both a noun and an adjective. In this instance it is an adjective modifying “aura.” There are many words that swing both ways.

What is an example of an omitted comma?

You can omit the comma if the clauses are both short. Examples: I have painted the entire house, but he is still working on sanding the doors. I paint and he writes. Use the comma to separate two sentences if it will help avoid confusion.