Why is the Oxford comma optional?

The Oxford comma has been around for centuries, but is entirely optional: the rules of punctuation do not demand its use. Technically it’s never wrong, but it may not always be necessary. By default, PerfectIt won’t check Oxford commas. It waits for the user to choose a preference either to include them or not.

Is the Oxford comma necessary?

An Oxford, or serial, comma is the last comma in a list; it goes before the word “and.” Technically, it’s grammatically optional in American English.

Why is the Oxford comma not universal?

The Oxford Comma is one of the few rules that writers don’t have to follow. It is more of a stylistic choice rather than following a universal rule of grammar, such as the rule that a noun and verb are required to make a complete sentence.

Why don’t people use the Oxford comma Reddit?

Omitting the Oxford comma in this instance actually increases ambiguity, since there’s no way to discern whether we’re talking about a series of three, or whether we’re simply talking about Frank who happens to be both a DJ and a dentist – which isn’t a series of three items, so you’d never use an Oxford comma there.

Why it is called Oxford comma?

It’s known as the Oxford comma because it was traditionally used by printers, readers, and editors at Oxford University Press. Not all writers and publishers use it, but it can clarify the meaning of a sentence when the items in a list are not single words: The Oxford comma is also known as the serial comma.

What is the opposite of the Oxford comma?

“To separate the elements (words, phrases, clauses) of a simple series of more than 2 elements, including a comma before the closing ‘and’ or ‘or’ (the so-called serial comma). Routine use of the serial comma helps to prevent ambiguity.” “Whether to include the serial comma has sparked many arguments.

What is opposite of Oxford comma?

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Who does not use the Oxford comma?

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 is Oxford comma vs serial comma?

In English-language punctuation, a serial comma (also called a series comma, Oxford comma, or Harvard comma) is a comma placed immediately after the penultimate term (i.e., before the coordinating conjunction, such as and or or) in a series of three or more terms.