Why is the Oxford comma important?

The Oxford comma is the comma placed before the conjunction at the end of a list of things. … Proponents of the Oxford comma say it’s necessary for removing ambiguity in sentences. Of course, there are detractors as well, writers who vehemently oppose the use of the Oxford comma, seeing it as superfluous.

When should I use the Oxford comma?

The proper definition of the Oxford comma is “a comma used after the penultimate item in a list of three or more items, before ‘and’ or ‘or’.” For example: “Today I went to lunch with my roommates, Tom, and Molly.”

Do Oxford commas matter?

Technically, it’s grammatically optional in American English. However, depending on the list you are writing out, omitting it can lead to some confusion.

What is the significance of an Oxford comma quizlet?

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 is the purpose of a comma?

A comma tells readers that the introductory clause or phrase has come to a close and that the main part of the sentence is about to begin.

Does New York Times use Oxford comma?

(In most cases, The Times stylebook discourages the serial comma, often called the Oxford comma because it was traditionally used by the Oxford University Press.) It appears the Maine Legislature has learned its lesson, at least.

How can the Oxford comma change meaning?

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.

What are the 5 primary uses of a comma?

Separating the main elements of a sentence from each other. Setting off a parenthetical element from the rest of the sentence. Separating elements in a series. Setting off dialogs or quotations.

How does a comma help a reader?

The comma is a punctuation mark that is used to keep distinct information separated. It helps the reader understand how the ideas in the sentence work together. Although many writers benefit from reading aloud commas as pauses while proofreading, a comma does not always represent a pause in a spoken sentence.

Do we need comma before and?

The word and is a conjunction, and when a conjunction joins two independent clauses, you should use a comma with it. The proper place for the comma is before the conjunction. … Therefore, we need a comma before and. Don’t use a comma before and when one of the clauses it’s connecting is a dependent clause.

Where is the comma needed?

Quick Guide to Commas

Use a pair of commas in the middle of a sentence to set off clauses, phrases, and words that are not essential to the meaning of the sentence. Use one comma before to indicate the beginning of the pause and one at the end to indicate the end of the pause.

Can you use 2 commas in a sentence?

Use two commas to set off an appositive or an aside in the midst of a sentence. An appositive is a word or phrase that describes a noun it follows. An aside tells us something about the noun, but is not essential to defining the noun.

Do you put commas after names?

The rule is – either have the commas both before and after a name, or don’t add it at all. This is because the sentence is talking about a particular person John. The addition of commas gives extra emphasis to the name. My friend John, who is a better painter than me, can do the walls for your home.

Does today need a comma?

If “today” is in the middle or at the end of the sentence, then a comma is not needed. … However, if “today” comes at the beginning of the sentence as an introductory word, then it should be followed by a comma. Example: Today, we are going to finish our homework.

What words are clauses?

A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb that have a relationship.