Is the Oxford comma 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.

Which countries use the Oxford comma?

“In British practice there’s an Oxford/Cambridge divide … In Canada and Australia the serial comma is recommended only to prevent ambiguity or misreading.” “The so-called ‘Oxford comma’ is an optional comma that follows the penultimate item in a list of three or more items and precedes the word ‘and’ …

Which countries dont use Oxford comma?

Most Australian, Canadian and British stylebooks discourage the use of the Oxford comma. Even in the United States, a well-known detractor of the serial comma is the AP Stylebook – the definitive grammar guide for journalists.

Are Oxford commas used in French?

The French have complicated grammar, syntax and punctuation without the Oxford Comma. They spurn the Oxford Comma and yet embrace the ampersand!

Why dont British people use the 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.

Why do people hate Oxford commas?

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.

Is the Oxford comma correct or incorrect?

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.

Does America use the Oxford comma?

The Serial/Oxford Comma The serial comma (also known as the “Oxford comma” in the UK) is a comma placed before the last item in a list of three or more things. Most American English style guies recommend using this comma as standard: I believe in good spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Is the Oxford comma pretentious?

The last comma in that sentence above is an Oxford comma, also known as the serial comma or the Harvard comma. Its name is always pretentious, and its purpose is always the same: it comes before the conjunction (in this case, “and”) in a list.