#GrammarSeries – Let’s talk about the ‘oxford comma’

grammar

Do you know that there is something called the ‘Oxford Comma’? The Oxford Comma or serial comma is placed immediately before the coordinating conjunction (usually and or or) in a series of three or more terms.

For example

I ate rice, beans, and pizza at yesterday’s party.

The oxford comma comes right after beans

Using the Oxford comma is majorly up to you except you are writing for a publication that requires its usage. Most people use it without knowing that they are doing so.

However, omission of the Oxford comma can sometimes make your sentence ambiguous.

Look at this example.

I love my sisters, Spongebob and Barney.

Without the oxford comma the sentence above could be interpreted to mean that you love your sisters, whose names are Spongebob and Barney.

However there is a school of thought that believes the sentence could be re- written by saying;

I love Barnyey, Spongebob and my sisters.

So what do you think of the oxford comma? Let us know in the comment box.

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