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Is the Oxford comma Important?
It appears as though essayists will do a battle over the Oxford comma. Some are stalwart fans, and others demand it should disappear from the English language.
Anyway, would it be a good idea for you to use the punctuation marks? Also, when do you have to use Oxford comma?
Here, we will cover the basics that you want to be familiar with using the Oxford comma, including the rules that we use with it, whether it’s grammatically right, and instances of the right and wrong method to use it.
What’s the Oxford comma rule?
The Oxford comma, a.k.a. the sequential comma, is the last comma in a queue. The Oxford comma should be set before “and” toward the finish of a sentence.
Here is an example of what a sentence with the Oxford comma would seem to be:
I have three Rakesh named Burst, Buster, and Run. (Without Oxford comma)
A similar sentence without the Oxford comma would peruse:
I have three Rakesh named Blast, Buster, and Run. (With Oxford comma)
Whether you decide to add a comma will rely upon the style guide you follow.
For example,
AP Style doesn’t need the Oxford comma, while the Chicago Manual of Style requires it in practically all cases. Make certain to check with the style guide you use to check whether the Oxford comma is a prerequisite or not.
Examples of Oxford Comma
1) I had an ice cream, a cookie and a brownie. (Without Oxford comma)
I had an ice cream, a cookie, and a brownie. (With Oxford comma)
2) She served sandwiches, chips and dip, and fruit salad. (Without Oxford comma)
She served sandwiches, chips and dip, and fruit salad. (With Oxford comma)
Are Oxford commas grammatically right?
Most students believe that the Oxford comma doesn’t fit grammatically correct. Yet, this doesn’t mean using it is incorrect. All things considered, it is up to you.
As referenced in the part above, whether you use the Oxford comma will rely upon the style guide you follow. Some style guides expect you to use it, while others, similar to the Related Press Stylebook, consider it superfluous.
The way you are writing, the importance of a sentence, and your own inclination will likewise become an important factor.
Have confidence that paying little mind to what grammarians, English educators, and your companions might think, you will not be defying any syntax norms assuming you incorporate or exclude the Oxford comma in your composition.
Regardless of whether it’s anything but a grammatical error, the Oxford comma has its place.
For example,
Attorneys or legitimate authors are forced to incorporate the Oxford comma for clarity. While the sequential comma explains records, it can slow down great sentence arrangement and stream. Numerous columnists are against it hence. Some even contend that it makes for a slow composition or messes the piece with pointless emphasize.
Here is an illustration of the Oxford comma being utilized to explain a sentence:
(With Oxford comma)“We live with my folks, Roma, and Rakesh.”
Furthermore, a similar sentence without:
(Without Oxford comma)“We live with my folks, Roma and Rakesh.”
You can see how dropping the comma can make some disarray, or in any event, a senseless sentence. Without the Oxford comma, it appears to be that the guardians are the Roma and Rakesh. With it, you can tell the guardians, Roma, and Rakesh are various pieces of the line.
In any case, somebody against the Oxford comma could guarantee that the author ought to just improve their sentence. They could transform it to:
“We live with my folks, Roma and Rakesh.”
These sentences mix the issue of using or not using the Oxford comma. They likewise make the difference in the gatherings. Indeed, the outcome is somewhat longer than the first sentences. This is something you need to learn at Intermediate level in English, however, it adds much greater clarity.
In the following part, we will give a couple of additional examples so you can see how to use and not to use the sequence comma.
With regards to the Oxford comma, you have choices. Go with the necessities of the style guide you’re using when important, yet when it boils down to individual inclination, go with your stomach. Whether you use the Oxford comma or favor the absence of a comma, simply keep it reliable constantly. Furthermore, above all – make sure your sentences are understood.