Why is the Oxford comma not used anymore?

Why don’t they use it? Many opponents of the Oxford comma claim that it makes a piece of writing sound more pretentious and stuffy, and that it can make things seem cluttered and redundant. Many magazine publishers renounce its use as well, because sentences loaded with commas take up valuable page space.

Who decided to get rid of the Oxford comma? Oxford Comma Dispute Is Settled as Maine Drivers Get $5 Million. Ending a case that electrified punctuation pedants, grammar goons and comma connoisseurs, Oakhurst Dairy settled an overtime dispute with its drivers that hinged entirely on the lack of an Oxford comma in state law.

Likewise Why is the Oxford comma so controversial?

This practice is controversial and is known as the serial comma or Oxford comma, because it is part of the house style of Oxford University Press.” There are cases in which the use of the serial comma can avoid ambiguity and also instances in which its use can introduce ambiguity.

What is the deal with the Oxford comma? The Oxford comma is the comma placed before the conjunction at the end of a list of things. For example, in u201cthe flag was red, white, and blueu201d, the Oxford comma would be the one appearing before u201candu201d. Proponents of the Oxford comma say it’s necessary for removing ambiguity in sentences.

Do schools teach Oxford comma?

In primary schools today, students are taught how to use the Oxford comma but aren’t familiar with the name. The use of the Oxford Comma is typically taught on the second-grade level. Many students use it until they find out later that they no longer need to use it.

Do we use comma before but? Comma Before But

If you are joining two independent clauses, use a comma before the word but. Where the but is not joining two independent clauses, do not use a comma. The comma is a useful and multifunctional part of English grammar, it can help the flow of a piece of text and provide a small break for the reader.

Is Oxford comma right or wrong?

The Oxford comma comes right after eraser. Use of the Oxford comma is stylistic, meaning that some style guides demand its use while others don’t. … Unless you’re writing for a particular publication or drafting an essay for school, whether or not you use the Oxford comma is generally up to you.

Does Cambridge University Press use the Oxford comma? The comma and where to use it is a case in point. The debate over whether to put a comma before the “and” in a list has been around since the 18th century, Crystal said. … Oxford University Press decided it should be in, and in such cases it is now called the Oxford comma or serial comma.

How do you teach Oxford comma?

Is the Oxford comma? 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. However, depending on the list you are writing out, omitting it can lead to some confusion.

Is but a conjunction?

The most common coordinating conjunctions are for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so; you can remember them by using the mnemonic device FANBOYS.

What are the 8 rules for commas? Commas (Eight Basic Uses)

• Use a comma to separate independent clauses. …
• Use a comma after an introductory clause or phrase. …
• Use a comma between all items in a series. …
• Use commas to set off nonrestrictive clauses. …
• Use a comma to set off appositives. …
• Use a comma to indicate direct address. …
• Use commas to set off direct quotations.

What is the difference between an Oxford comma and a regular comma?

When you’re writing a list, you naturally include commas to separate each item, but an Oxford comma is when you also put a comma before the “and [Final Item]”. For example: Without Oxford comma: “Her favourite foods were chocolate, marshmallows, cake and chicken.”

When did the Oxford comma become a thing? The Oxford comma has been attributed to Horace Hart, printer and controller of the Oxford University Press from 1893 to 1915, who wrote Hart’s Rules for Compositors and Readers in 1905 as a style guide for the employees working at the press.

Does British English use the Oxford comma?

Serial/Oxford Comma

Despite being named after a British University, the Oxford comma (the comma used before “and” in lists (e.g., I like wookies, ewoks, and droids)) is not considered standard in UK English because only one style guide (Oxford) recommends it.

When did the Oxford comma start? The Oxford comma has been attributed to Horace Hart, printer and controller of the Oxford University Press from 1893 to 1915, who wrote Hart’s Rules for Compositors and Readers in 1905 as a style guide for the employees working at the press.

Is Oxford comma capitalized?

Note that Oxford is capitalized as it is a proper noun, but the word comma is not capitalized. … Generally, journalists do not use the Oxford comma, while academics tend to favor its use. Choose whether or not you will use the Oxford comma in your document and be consistent.

Why is it called the 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 Oxford comma vs serial comma?

The Oxford (or serial) comma is the final comma in a list of things. … The Oxford comma comes right after eraser. Use of the Oxford comma is stylistic, meaning that some style guides demand its use while others don’t.

Why called the 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 em dash?

The Em Dash: An Introduction

Like commas and parentheses, em dashes set off extra information, such as examples, explanatory or descriptive phrases, or supplemental facts. Like a colon, an em dash introduces a clause that explains or expands upon something that precedes it.

What are the 7 conjunctions? The seven coordinating conjunctions are for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so.

Can I start a sentence with but?

Is it acceptable to begin a sentence with the word and or but? The answer is yes. It is perfectly acceptable to start sentences with the conjunctions and and but. However, it is slightly informal.

What part of speech is cat? part of speech: noun. definition 1: a small, furry mammal with whiskers, short ears, and a long tail.

Do commas always go after because?

Because is a subordinating conjunction, which means that it connects a subordinate clause to an independent clause; good style dictates that there should be no comma between these two clauses. … There should generally be no comma between the two. Michael went to the forest, because he loves walking among the trees.

Does a comma mean a pause?

Although many writers benefit from reading aloud commas as pauses while proofreading, a comma does not always represent a pause in a spoken sentence. When speaking, people pause for many reasons, and inserting commas at all points where you would pause often leads to misplaced commas.

What is the 5th comma rule? Rule #5 Use a comma when addressing someone. Rule #6 Use a comma for words used to interrupt a sentence. Rule #7 Use a comma between a city and a province. Also, use one after province if the sentence continues.