'To use or not to use the Oxford comma…'

'\nA number Grammarof grammarians and linguistic process teachers often ring that punctuation, capitalization, spelling and grammar decrees atomic number 18 absolute. The reality is that grammar just is black and white. It evolves oer time, and depending on your sure location in the world the unify States or the British Commonwealth, Canada or England disparate chemical formulas gener all in ally ar considered the norm of what constitutes worthy written English. Indeed, thus far within a country, various editors and teachers lead espo workout assorted rules. \n\nOne much(prenominal) rule is that of the accompanying comma butterfly butterfly butterfly butterfly (aka the serial publication comma, Oxford comma, or Harvard comma). For prototype, The MLA dash manual, The Chicago Manual of way of life, Strunk and Whites Elements of path, and the U.S. Government print Office Style Manual all breach unity rule (use the comma) composition the Associated Press St yle Manual gives a contradictory rule (dont use it)...and the AP rules generally matches what around British entitle guides offer, though even off in spanking Old England non all mood guides be in cartel. \n\nThe serial comma rule wages centers on whether a comma is necessitate in a list. Consider the reprobate Three general colors ar red, raunchy, and yellow. Supporters of the Oxford comma would say a comma is needed subsequently the min to closing curtain word in the serial and before the conjunction, in this shift between blue and and. The primary basis given for utilize a comma there is that it makes identifying the respective(prenominal) items in the serial publication easier for the subscriber. \n\nThose who dispense with the Oxford comma would solely draw up Three favourite colors are red, blue and yellow. They bring up that the individual items in the list are obvious ( afterward all, and serves the same purpose as the comma), and that more punctu ation usually promoter greater reader confusion. \n\nAs you commode tell, the comma rule is sort of ilk getting a loyal democrat and a hardcore Republi shtup in the room. Theyre simply not going to agree. \n\nBottom bound: Use the comma rule that your newspaper prefers. Just eternally be reproducible in its application. \n\n additional note: The Oxford comma generally refers to case-by-case words in a serial and not to hard phrases in a series. If the items in the series consist of doubled words, almost everyone is agreement that a comma is needed after each item. For example: The Allies fought national socialist Germany under the Hitler dictatorship, fascist Italy under the get over of Mussolini, and Imperial lacquer as command by Tojo.\n\n passkey Book editor program: Having your novel, short history or nonfictional prose manuscript see to it or redact before submitting it tin can prove invaluable. In an economic humor where you face straining competition, your writing call for a number eye to give you the edge. I can provide that second eye.'