What is an Oxford Comma, and When Should You Use It?

What is an Oxford Comma, and When Should You Use It?

It’s hard to fathom that a universally accepted grammar rule is a topic for debate. The Oxford comma has long been part of the English language, but its use still sparks arguments among writers, editors, and grammarians.

What exactly is an Oxford comma, and when should you use it?

The Oxford comma is placed before the coordinating conjunction (usually “and” or “or”) in a list of at least items. For instance, “I love mountain climbing, reading, and cycling.” The comma after “reading” is the Oxford comma. Aside from appearing after the word “reading,” it also comes before the conjunction “and” in the sentence.

While some may argue that omitting the Oxford comma reduces confusion, its use provides clarity and structure to a sentence. In some cases, it can even affect the meaning of a sentence.

Consider this example:

“I would like to thank my parents, Martha and Cris.”  Without the Oxford comma, it may appear that the speaker’s parents are Martha and Cris.

“I would like to thank my parents, Martha, and Cris.” With the Oxford comma, it’s understood that the speaker is thanking three different people: their parents, Martha, and Cris.

The Origins of the Oxford Comma

The Oxford comma gets its name from the Oxford University Press (OUP), where its use was traditionally advocated. The term “Oxford comma” is especially popular in American English, reflecting its British origins.

The Oxford comma is the final comma in a list of items, placed before ‘and’ or ‘or’. For example, in the list “apples, oranges, and bananas,” the comma after “oranges” is the Oxford comma.

Why Oxford? The Style Guide Connection

The Oxford University Press, one of the most prestigious and influential publishing houses in the world, has long been a standard-bearer for English grammar and style.

The Oxford comma is part of the OUP’s style guide, a set of standards that have been adopted by many other writers and editors.

This style guide, known as the ‘Oxford Guide to Style,’ previously the ‘Hart’s Rules,’ advocates for the use of the Oxford comma as a means of avoiding ambiguity in written English.

The Role of the Oxford Comma in Clarity and Precision

The Oxford comma’s primary purpose is to eliminate confusion in sentences where items in a series are listed. Consider the sentence: “I love my parents, Lady Gaga and Humpty Dumpty.”

Without the Oxford comma, it could be misinterpreted that the speaker’s parents are Lady Gaga and Humpty Dumpty.

With the Oxford comma (“I love my parents, Lady Gaga, and Humpty Dumpty”), the meaning becomes clear.

Using the Oxford comma also follows a consistent style throughout a text, which helps maintain consistency and prevent the likelihood of confusion.

There are scenarios where the Oxford comma should always be used, such as:

1 – Academic Writing

Most style guides in academic writing, including APA and MLA, recommend using the Oxford comma.

The Oxford comma is particularly critical in such settings, as it can decisively eliminate ambiguity, ensuring that your reader understands your intent.

For example, when you present complex lists or lists where the items themselves contain conjunctions, the Oxford comma serves to distinguish each element clearly.

Likewise, it aligns with the stylistic guidelines of major academic style guides, thereby reinforcing the standardization and consistency in your writing.

While a missing Oxford comma might not always lead to significant misunderstanding, it could make reading more difficult.

And since in an academic context where the interpretation and understanding of information is critical, employing the Oxford comma contributes to the overall readability and precision of your writing.

2 – Legal Documents

The Oxford comma means so much legal writing as it eliminates ambiguity or misinterpretation. In legal contracts, missing or misplaced commas are dangerous because they can alter the meaning of a sentence, leading to possible lawsuits due to ambiguity. As such, lawyers often include the Oxford comma to ensure no loopholes or confusion in their legal documents.

Unsurprisingly, the legal profession embraces the Oxford comma since details are crucial in their line of work. Legal terms rely on the tiniest of details, and an inadequate use of the Oxford comma will result in discrepancies in interpretation.

3 – Technical Writing

Accuracy and clarity are of paramount importance in technical writing.

Therefore, like in academic writing, the Oxford comma is typically used to minimize ambiguity and ensure precision in conveying information.

For instance, when listing steps or instructions for a process or procedure, the Oxford comma helps delineate each step or item clearly.

For example, consider the following sentence: “For the experiment, you need to gather a thermometer, a beaker filled with water and oil.” This sentence, without an Oxford comma, can confuse. Does the beaker contain water and oil mixed, or are water and oil separate components?

Now, apply the Oxford comma: “For the experiment, you need to gather a thermometer, a beaker filled with water, and oil.”

With the Oxford comma, it’s clear that there are three separate items to be collected: a thermometer, a beaker filled with water, and oil.

In technical writing, such clarity means everything.

The instructions and procedures must be precisely understood to avoid errors or mishaps, particularly in fields such as science or technology, where a single misinterpretation could have consequences. Therefore, the Oxford comma becomes a necessary addition in conveying precise information.

4 – Personal Preference

While the Oxford comma is technically a style choice, some people may have personal preferences or adhere to specific style guides that require its use. In these scenarios cases, you must maintain consistency throughout your writing and follow any guidelines provided.

Let’s take a closer look at an example to understand the influences of the Oxford comma in detail:

See this example: “The museum features exhibits on astronauts, Mary, and Bob.”

In this sentence, the Oxford comma is after “Mary,” indicating that “Mary” and “Bob” are separate entities distinct from “astronauts.” Without the Oxford comma, the sentence would read: “The museum features exhibits on astronauts, Mary and Bob.” This version could be confusing, as it could be interpreted that Mary and Bob are the astronauts the museum is featuring, which may not be the case.

This example showcases the significance of the Oxford comma in ensuring clarity in sentences.

Using the Oxford comma, we clearly differentiate between the items in the list, reducing the likelihood of misinterpretations or misunderstandings.

The Oxford comma, though small, plays a critical role in maintaining the precision and clarity of language, which is why it is often recommended in various forms of writing, from academic to technical and legal documents.

Style Guides That Don’t Recommend the Use of the Oxford Comma

But as much as there are style guides that recommend using the Oxford comma, there are also those that don’t. The list includes:

• The New York Times Stylebook
• Associated Press Stylebook (AP)
• The Economist Style Guide
• Canadian Press Style Guide
• University of Oxford Style Guide

What’s the reason why these style guides are against the use of the Oxford comma?

The main reason given by some style guides for not recommending the Oxford comma is a preference for simplicity and economy of punctuation.

The Associated Press Stylebook, for one, generally advises against the Oxford comma, primarily to save space.

The New York Times Stylebook also refrains from recommending the Oxford comma, as it prefers to stick to a minimalist approach to punctuation. It states that unnecessary commas clutter the text and can slow the reader.

The Economist Style Guide, likewise, values brevity and clarity over strict adherence to the Oxford comma rule.

It encourages writers to use common sense instead, opting for the Oxford comma only when its omission could lead to confusion.

The Canadian Press Style Guide follows a similar approach.

It doesn’t outright ban the Oxford comma but prefers its writers to use it sparingly and only when necessary for clarity’s sake.

Despite its name, the University of Oxford Style Guide doesn’t universally require the Oxford comma. It supports its use when it helps prevent ambiguity but otherwise advises against it.

All these style guides share a common theme: they believe that while the Oxford comma occasionally clarifies a sentence’s meaning, in most cases, its use is unnecessary to convey the intended message.

Final Thoughts On What Is The Oxford Comma

In summary, the Oxford comma may seem like a small detail in the vast landscape of grammar, but as we’ve explored, its use can have a significant impact on the clarity and precision of our writing.

Whether it’s aligning with a specific style guide, maintaining consistency, or ensuring the unambiguous conveyance of our thoughts, the Oxford comma is more than just a stylistic choice—it’s a powerful tool in the craft of clear communication.

By understanding when and how to use this seemingly modest punctuation mark, we can enhance the readability and effectiveness of our writing, making it an invaluable asset in our linguistic toolkit.

Other Resources

How To Write A Press Release

How To Find Your Writing Voice

10 Best Books On Writing