What is American punctuation?

Period and comma: In British English, the period and comma are placed outside quotation marks. However, if the punctuation mark is a part of the quote itself, then the quotation mark is placed after the period or comma. In American English, the period and comma are always placed inside quotation marks.

What is the difference between American and British punctuation?

American English places periods and commas inside double quotation marks. British English places them outside single quotation marks. Examples: (U.S.) “We have no time for an extended debate or a decision by committee,” Rory said.

Why is it called 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.

How are commas used in American English?

Comma Use

1. Use commas to separate independent clauses when they are joined by any of these seven coordinating conjunctions: and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet.
2. Use commas after introductory a) clauses, b) phrases, or c) words that come before the main clause.

Why is it called the Oxford comma?

What 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’ …

Where did the Oxford comma originate?

The word comma comes from the Greek word koptein, which means “to cut off.” 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.

Why you need an Oxford comma?

It can be used in both “and” and “or” lists as the last comma separating a series of items. It works to help order these items and provide a distinction between the items on the list, particularly the last two items. See several Oxford comma examples at play to understand the basics of how it works.