In AP style, omit the comma before the last item in a simple series, such as “Joe, John and Steve.” If the series includes internal commas that necessitate semicolons or uses a conjunction such as “and,” include the comma.
Does AP style include Oxford comma?
The use of the Oxford comma is a hotly debated topic among journalists and grammar enthusiasts. The AP Stylebook — the guiding stylebook for many news outlets, including The Daily Tar Heel — advises against using the Oxford comma in most simple series.
Does AP use serial comma?
The Oxford (or serial) comma is the final comma in a list of things. For example: ... AP Style—the style guide that newspaper reporters adhere to— does not require the use of the Oxford comma.
Who uses the serial comma?
“ Medical transcriptionists use the serial comma when two medications or diagnoses must be seen as separate; i.e., for ‘The patient was on Aspirin, Coversyl, and Dilaudid’, the comma is used before ‘and’ to avoid the reader erroneously thinking that Coversyl and Dilaudid must be taken together.”
Do serial numbers need commas?
The serial comma is a contentious topic. ... As a general rule, do not use the serial/Oxford comma : so write ‘a, b and c’ not ‘a, b, and c’. But when a comma would assist in the meaning of the sentence or helps to resolve ambiguity, it can be used — especially where one of the items in the list is already joined by ‘and’:
Why you shouldn’t use the Oxford comma?
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.
When should you not use an Oxford comma?
Don’t switch back and forth in the same document between using the Oxford comma and not using it. By the way, this rule only applies to lists of three or more items . You should not use a comma before and if you’re only mentioning two qualities.
How do you use a comma in AP Style?
AP Style states: A comma is used to separate an introductory clause or phrase from the main clause :When he had tired of the mad pace of New York, he moved to Dubuque. The comma may be omitted after short introductory phrases if no ambiguity would result: During the night he heard many noises.
Is AP Style double spaced?
To properly follow AP style guidelines, only use one space after a period , as opposed to the often used double-space.
How do you write inches in AP Style?
Use an apostrophe to indicate “feet” and quotation marks to indicate “inches” (6’5”) only in very technical senses.
Is the Oxford comma optional?
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 .
What is the difference between an Oxford comma and a regular comma?
What is an Oxford comma? To give the Oxford comma its technical definition, it is a comma used before the final conjunction in a list of three or more items . 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]”.
Why the Oxford comma is necessary?
The Oxford comma is the comma placed before the conjunction at the end of a list of things. ... Proponents of the Oxford comma say it’s necessary for removing ambiguity in sentences . Of course, there are detractors as well, writers who vehemently oppose the use of the Oxford comma, seeing it as superfluous.
Which style does not require the serial comma in a simple series?
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. Here’s a tip: Commas can be tricky, but they don’t have to trip you up.
Do you need a comma after the second to last item in a list?
Writers frequently wonder whether a comma should go before the conjunction and in a list of three or more items. Despite the fact that not all style books agree on this issue, we recommend using a comma after the next-to-last item in a series —the serial comma, as it is called (or the Harvard or Oxford comma).
If your independent clauses are very closely related and you want them to remain in the same sentence, a semicolon can be used in place of a period. It’s also possible to join these clauses by making one dependent on the other and using a comma to join them together.
