Questions tagged [oxford-comma]
For questions about the Oxford comma; this is the comma placed before the final item in a series of three or more terms, used generally for stylistic or disambiguatory purposes.
100
questions
0
votes
2
answers
73
views
Oxford comma list with more than one verb
A friend has pointed out that in an Oxford comma separated list, either every clause needs a verb, or each clause must be the object of the first verb.
This seems to make sense to me, but would this ...
- 1
1
vote
0
answers
69
views
The way to join multiple relative clauses
One sentence on this website says:
It is caused chiefly by kleptocratic governments or private interests in league with governments that make market exchange unprofitable, that make investment in ...
- 13
0
votes
0
answers
29
views
Is a comma needed in a sentence with repeated “to-phrases”?
Is a comma or any other punctuation needed between each “to-phrase” in a sentence like this one (which is meant to say that the trait has been passed on first from Generation I to Generation II, then ...
- 185
-3
votes
1
answer
65
views
Why is the Oxford comma a stylistic choice? [closed]
I've gone through the threads on the Oxford comma and I am wondering why it is a stylistic choice rather than a standard practice, particularly with 3/+ items connected with "and"?
My point ...
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
88
views
Is there a proper/better way to write a serial comma separated list of dates? It feels like I shouldn't be mixing date commas with the serial commas
For example, consider the following sentence:
The company mentioned the project in press
releases dated September 13, 2020, May 21, 2022, and June 8, 2022.
Is that the correct way to write it? It ...
- 101
1
vote
0
answers
27
views
Can I use a comma before "and" to show information at the end of a sentence only applies to the latter subject?
Take this sentence:
It applies to EU institutions and national governments when implementing EU law
The 'when implementing EU law' could be interpreted as being the case for both subjects (EU ...
- 111
0
votes
1
answer
94
views
How to write a list of items, where the last item is a compound item? [duplicate]
I have a sentence that contains a list of items, and the last item in the list contains an "and" (e.g. like a pet shop may sell "hampsters" and "cat and dog beds", but ...
0
votes
0
answers
31
views
When to put comma only or comma with conjunctions to separate items inside brackets (,) (, and ) [duplicate]
I was wondering about when to put comma only or comma with connectors to separate items inside brackets (,) (, and ).
This is an example:
Health status (physical, mental, biological, psychological)
...
0
votes
1
answer
12
views
a project involving training for children, teachers, and parents(,) was the most effective [duplicate]
is adding the comma before was necessary?
a project involving training for children, teachers, and parents(,) was the most effective
1
vote
0
answers
118
views
Different conjunctions in a series (blank, blank, and blank, but blank) [closed]
The example sentence is just an example meant to highlight my question, not something I've come across in writing. It's a bit rough, and I honestly don't know much about policy/bills/what have you, ...
- 11
0
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Omitting a comma before "aka" and then using a serial comma in the end of a series [closed]
When we use also known as as aka, we don't precede it with a comma.
John Smith aka Big Nose was a famous <...>
But what about the case where aka is followed by items in a series?
Given name ...
- 555
5
votes
3
answers
12k
views
Can I use a comma before an ampersand?
Question
Can I use a comma (,) before an ampersand (&)?
If no, then why not?
Example
The same products attracted all European countries to India: spices, silk, & cotton.
0
votes
0
answers
54
views
Use of comma after a conjunction
Operationally, collective behavior was detected and quantified using correlations, or, more recently, by mutual information estimated either locally or globally.
Here should it be "or more ...
0
votes
0
answers
352
views
The use of comma in these sentences
Thus, the differences between the critical and average delays for BCLAs and KSAs are small, and, consequently, RPTs in multipliers with BCLAs and KSAs should be easily detected than those in ...
0
votes
0
answers
41
views
Using the oxford comma to separate two entities of which one has an article
Considering that I do not want to switch the positions of the italicized nouns in this sentence:
"Taken as examples are the Limboagan effect, and hysteria."
Will it be correct to use the ...
0
votes
0
answers
120
views
Comma before "as well as" in a series
I am writing a text in which I use the serial comma ("Oxford comma").
Example: She used to play with Ben, Alice, and Tom.
Do I still need a comma if I replace the and with as well as?
...
- 135
0
votes
1
answer
757
views
What do missing an Oxford comma and having it mean respectively here? [duplicate]
A tweet in trending says
The highlights of his waning administration include encounters with Rudy Giuliani, a healthcare disaster and a dildo collector.
A response says
People keep telling me this ...
- 9,973
0
votes
3
answers
795
views
Should there be a semicolon after the third name and title?
Should there be a semicolon after the third name and title in this sentence (names and titles are not real), or is a single comma sufficient?
Join John Smith, President and CEO, X Corporation; Mark ...
- 999
1
vote
0
answers
2k
views
Does the Oxford comma apply to ampersands?
I came across this text on a shoe description:
Durable but light, & flexible enough to move with the foot.
I am well aware of the Oxford Comma, so the text would use durable but light, and ...
- 1,235
0
votes
1
answer
120
views
Usage of Oxford comma in particular case [closed]
In the sentence
I had eggs, toast, and orange juice.
we're clearly speaking of three different items (eggs + toast + orange juice). My question is, if I don't use the oxford comma in that case
I ...
0
votes
0
answers
39
views
What is the correct way to punctuate this text?
I would like to know your thoughts on how to correctly punctuate this text:
One of the most visited places here in Manila is Binondo, often referred to as the business capital at the time, before ...
- 19
0
votes
1
answer
44
views
Usage of. comma
1) I bought a tie and a shirt and a hat.
2) I bought a tie, a shirt, and a hat.
Are both 1 and 2 correct?
Please let me know the difference between 1 and 2.
- 1
1
vote
1
answer
157
views
Coordinating conjunction for connecting list items
In compliance with the Oxford comma when listing three or more items a comma is used between the items and before and.
What if in a list of three items two of them have a word in common (edge ...
- 117
0
votes
1
answer
126
views
Serial comma before "and should be approved" or is it a compound predicate that does not require a comma?
In this particular situation, I cannot decide if the comma before "and should be approved" is needed because it is part of the series before it, or it is a compound predicate situation in which the ...
user295356
2
votes
2
answers
223
views
How to punctuate an adverb that immediately proceeds from a serial comma?
Research completed:
* CMS 16th Edition
How would I correctly punctuate an adverb that immediately proceeds from a serial comma? For example, "The contents of your bag will include cheese, crackers, ...
- 83
0
votes
1
answer
560
views
Serial comma in academic papers in mathematics and computer science [duplicate]
Is there a predominant style in academic papers in computer science concerning the usage or the omission of the serial comma? What do ACM and IEEE do in general? I failed to find it out on my own.
Is ...
user370543
2
votes
1
answer
98
views
Oxford comma in subject [closed]
I know that there are different opinions regarding Oxford comma, but I am taking IELTS soon, and I want to know if I should use it when my list is the subject of a sentence.
Example:
Spain, Austria, ...
- 33
0
votes
0
answers
15
views
Regarding Punctuation [duplicate]
Which of the following is correct ?
1) A, B, C and D
2) A, B, C, and D
- 1
1
vote
0
answers
33
views
Comma - American versus British, Really? [duplicate]
So, from my writing infancy, my High School Teacher Mom taught me never to place a comma before the conjunction in any list of more than 2 things and yet there seems to be quite some debate about it, ...
3
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Oxford comma with nonessential phrases
So, I've got the following list containing a nonessential phrase ("ultimately"), non-Oxford comma:
stifling curiosity, creativity and, ultimately, progress.
Is it then correct, when converted to ...
- 161
3
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What is the two-item list equivalent of the Oxford comma?
I was recently told that the Oxford comma is only for lists with three or more items. A preliminary search confirms this, as far as I can tell. I'm wondering if there is an equivalent word for a comma ...
- 65
0
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Please, is a comma required after the word 'lists'?
I have written many poems, topped lists and helped other poets.
Also, is a comma required after the word 'wells' here?
I spent years trimming flowers, digging wells and doing dishes.
0
votes
1
answer
63
views
Is it acceptable to state conditions one after the other separated by commas but not have "and" or "or" in the end?
I found a duplicate question here, but am asking my question since the nature of my sentence is a little different.
The sentence:
"You need to know your employees well. Who is unhappy at not ...
- 389
3
votes
1
answer
1k
views
using comma within the appositive
If you have a list of items separated by commas, can it be used as an appositive if you separate it from the rest of the sentence by yet another by comma?
Here's an example:
The factory produces ...
0
votes
1
answer
286
views
Why does President Trump add a second comma in this sentence to Kim Jong Un?
In the President's letter to Kim Jong Un, I noticed a comma which confused me :
I felt a wonderful dialogue was building up between you and me, and ultimately, it is only that dialogue that matters....
- 25.5k
2
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Is Microsoft Word's usage of commas correct?
Now I was fairly certain that my comma usage is accurate, but Microsoft Word is second-guessing me, and I can't be certain whether it's correct or not. I have a sentence like this:
Based on his ...
- 1,729
6
votes
1
answer
171
views
Is the solution of the Maine Legislature to the Oxford Comma Case.....clunky?
The Oxford Comma Case (Oakhurst Dairy in Portland, ME vs its drivers) has been settled for five million dollars. According to The New York Times
The relatively small-scale dispute gained ...
- 26.3k
0
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Commas surrounding a name
I am currently working on an essay, and I have a question about a certain pair of commas. Consider the following sentence:
One of my classmates, Simona Stoyanova, and I carried out independent ...
1
vote
0
answers
445
views
Using "and" multiple times within a list
The sentence in question is:
Today I went to the store, bought eggs, cheese, and milk, and bread.
Is it ever proper to write the first and? Other cases I find use the and to connect one thing ...
- 11
-3
votes
2
answers
340
views
Serial comma causing ambiguity [duplicate]
EDIT: This question is not addressed by Oxford Comma Conventions, if I'm wrong, then please provide a link to a particular answer or comment that does address my question. (Such links appear in ...
- 95
0
votes
2
answers
135
views
What punctuation should I use? [closed]
What punctuation should I use here?
Hester needs to be more grateful and focus on: her baby, Pearl; and her sewing.
-1
votes
1
answer
316
views
Using 'and' in an incomplete list [duplicate]
For my CV, I want to list a selection of units I have done at university. This list is not a complete list of all my units. Do I therefore need to add an 'and' at the end of the list? What I mean is:
...
user255496
1
vote
2
answers
63
views
What's the best way to solve this run on sentence (lots of "and"s)?
I have to change a description for something in our app, and I was given this sentence:
Create, edit and delete camera assignments and camera and DVR settings.
Now the lack of an Oxford comma is ...
- 125
10
votes
3
answers
16k
views
Is there an "Oxford semicolon"?
I must admit that I don't use semicolon lists very often. (In some instances, I probably should have.) I will also admit that I'm neither-here-nor-there with the use of an Oxford comma. Sometimes I ...
- 6,435
4
votes
0
answers
7k
views
The Oxford Comma and its relation to a list with only two entries. [closed]
The sentence is as follows:
I work in disaster management and prevention, and international aid and development.
2 Questions:
Can a list include just two entries as above?
Can the Oxford comma be ...
- 41
3
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Can linking verbs and action verbs be together as elements of the same list?
I am writing a sentence that contains a list of elements in it. Some of the elements are formed with linking verbs and some with action verbs.
For example:
Laura is a sexy lady, smells heavenly, ...
- 41
1
vote
2
answers
139
views
How can I divide this sentence?
It also generally implies a particular view of reality of what man, society, and even the physical world like in the nature, behavior and relationship to one another.
Could you divide this sentence ...
- 197
0
votes
0
answers
56
views
Is the Oxford comma necessary in small, single-worded lists? [duplicate]
The main argument: which is advisable of the following two?
A, B and C
A, B, and C
Oxford (or serial) comma is useful to avoid ambiguities in phrases that involve lists such as the example ...
- 493
0
votes
1
answer
101
views
Description after comma belongs to?
Let consider below example:
Varicella Zoster, the virus that causes chickenpox and shingles, a far
more dangerous, harmful, and longer-lasting disease in older adults
that impacts the nervous ...
1
vote
1
answer
689
views
Comma in a series of two series?
I'm writing some documentation for code I'm writing and had a question regarding commas with a series of two series.
You cannot add setting_A and setting_B, or setting_X and setting_Y in the same ...
- 195