Oxford style requires the use of the comma to avoid confusion, hence the name oxford comma. It is also required by the chicago manual of style and mla style. Ap stylebook online is a searchable, customizable resource for writers and editors. Although it is sold as a guide for reporters, it has become the leading reference. Only use it to avoid ambiguity, if part of the series contains a conjunction or if you have a complex series of phrases. The sentence above written in ap style would look like this. The oxford comma camp, the other camp, and the sane. The jumper is available in green, yellow, and black and white.
How to use commas in associated press style pen and the pad. Most writing style guides contain information specifically. In sutcliffes book, he names it the oxford comma because horace hart, printer and controller of the oxford university press in the late 19th century to early 20th century, wrote a style guide for oxford. Its mobile optimized so you can use it on your desktop, laptop, smartphone or tablet. Although the normal style is to avoid the serial comma, use one if it is needed for clarity.
Ap style thats the associated press stylebook, which many journalists live by does not use an oxford comma. Also known as the oxford comma, the serial comma is the final comma in a list of three items or more, and it is used immediately before and, or, and occasionally nor. Ap style, otherwise known as associated press style, is typically used for news writing or journalismbased writing, and it may sometimes be used for magazines. Ap style, the oxford comma, and communication the daily. What are the ap, apa, chicago, and mla writing styles. Perhaps no mark of punctuation ruffles feathers more than the serial comma also called series comma, oxford comma, and harvard comma.
Associated press style jillians journalismportfolio. Kelly, al, kenny, ellyn, jill, butch, and roy teach at poynter. The ap stylebook says that the oxford comma is no bueno, meaning that if youre listing more than two things, you should remove the final comma before and. Writers, editors, students and public relations specialists find it invaluable. The family meal was soup, fish and chips, and ice cream. Lets take a look at how the sentences above will look written in ap style. The new ap stylebook will not end the oxford comma debate. Lets change ap style for my sanity and the oxford comma february 19, 2018 blog opinion by nina cosdon 1 comment on lets change ap style for my sanity and the oxford comma.
At this time we have reason to believe the killings were gangrelated and carried out by adherents of both the ap and chicago styles, part of a. Its turning 60, and in honor of the occasion its approximately 500 pages of copy guidelines has had a revision. The oxford comma is a topic of debate in the grammar world. Although i preach consistency, using ap style creates inconsistency when it notes that a second comma. This is not a style change, but a clarification because the editors noted that some writers were confused. Chicago, being twice as long as ap, has twice as much to say on this subject and offers several more variations of proper serialcomma usage on which the ap is mum 6.
People seem to either love or hate the oxford comma, and the ap stylebook is part of the latter group. Their stance is that, in general, the final comma before and, or, or nor is an antiquated. This isnt meant to be a tellall, explaineverything guide to the complexities of ap and cms styles, as there are many, many better articles and books out there that do that far better than i can. It is clear that the oxford comma is an important tool for this purpose. Most of the style guides that dont require the oxford comma are journalistic style guides, and its likely they advise against using it because it saves space. Questions about the oxford comma are the most common.
Some writing styles such as the ap style which newspaper reporters often usedoes not require the oxford comma. However, if a journalist writes a sentence in which the list could be construed as a term followed by an appositive of further explanation about the. Oxford comma quandary ruthless editor kathleen watson. Do you know the big differences between ap, apa, chicago. Ap style does not use the serial comma, while chicago style does. Also called the oxford comma, this term refers to a comma that separates the penultimate item in a list from the final item introduced by a conjunction and or or. What is the oxford comma and why is it so important. Its often used by news organizations, magazines, and web publications, but brands often use it to form the basis of their own style guides, too. However, chicago style or the chicago manual of style, which is commonly used by book publishers, academics and trade publications does. Serial commas and serial semicolons by erika suffern serial commas.
But do you know the big differences between these four popular writing styles. Dont use the oxford comma in a simple series before the conjunction. The associated press has a stylebook with rules and standards used primarily in journalistic and news writing. Ap wants hyphens to literally go the way of the oxford comma 2 september, 2019 2 september, 2019 language 5 comments the oxford or serial comma is one of the more divisive parts of the english language even more so than the singular they, and it looks like. But its a topic that came up recently when a client asked me why i used quotation marks instead of italics for a book title in their article. Some inhouse style guides go against the oxford comma so word should be able to warn when the extra comma is being used. I would like a coffee with sugar, creamer and whipped topping. Style guides for book and academic publishing generally would insist on another comma after pears, the socalled serial comma or oxford comma. The new stylebook emphasizes that clarity is the bottom line. The first style book to recommend using the serial comma came out in 1905.
The guidelines help writers present clear and concise information with consistent structure to keep readers focused. Learning ap style, which loathes commas, has been a challenge as a comma happy english major. Ap style guide is a notable dissenter going against the serial comma except when its necessary for clarity. The oxford or serial comma which i prefer is the one that comes before the and in a series such as. This style guide is mainly used in most longform publishing. Lets change ap style for my sanity and the oxford comma. It is important to note that the ap style guide is just that. Either ap style must change to meet the needs of language, or newspapers should exercise leniency with its use in the name of communication.
This week we address the serial comma, seventh in the list of the top 10 most common apa style errors as identified by onwuegbuzie, combs, slate, and frels 2010. Ap style chicago manual of style style guides writing styles. Use of the oxford comma is stylistic, meaning that some style guides demand its use while others dont. Ap style composition titles the following guidelines are rules set out in the ap stylebook for ap style book titles, computer game titles, ap style movie titles, opera titles, play titles, poem titles, album titles, ap style song titles, radio and television titles, and the titles of lectures, speeches, and work of art. Spiralbound book, updated each spring 2019 ap stylebook. For example, readers would understand my meaning if i said, a rainbow is red, yellow, green and blue.
Other style guides, however, advise against using the oxford comma. The 2019 edition of the associated press stylebook and briefing on media law includes more than 200 new or revised entries, with chapters covering data journalism, business, fashion, food, religion and sports terms, as well as media law, news values, punctuation, social media, polls and surveys and a new chapter on health and science. However, chicago style or the chicago manual of style, which is commonly used by book publishers, academics and trade publications does require an oxford comma. The new ap style manual says to add the serial oxford comma to avoid confusion or ambiguity, whereas cmos 17 continues to recommend the serial oxford comma generally. The major differences between writing style guides topics. Are you interested in learning more about the differences between these two styles. Heres an overview of the oxford comma and why you might choose to use. That final comma before the and in a list is called an oxford comma, or serial comma. This week, i give a nod to the comma, a punctuation mark we all likely use multiple times daily. Ap style is to not include a comma before the conjunction in a simple series like the flag is red, white and blue. The style guide that journalists and newspapers adhere to does not require the oxford comma. Because there are so many more words than there are punctuation marks, my posts tend to be heavy on the wordchoice aspect of grammar. The ap stylebook, the style bible of journalists and online writers. I ate scrambled eggs, french toast and apple juice.
The major differences between writing style guides. As mentioned above, this is the comma that appears before a conjunction such as and or or in a series. The first edition of the book was 203 pages, which has since evolved into a book that is more than 1,000 pages. Broadly speaking, the oxford comma is the final comma in a list of things, usually located before the and in the sentence. That was settled in 1972 when millions of ap and upi staff fought on the very moon. Its a reference book that defines rules on grammar, spelling, punctuation and usages. But news writing has traditionally omitted the serial comma perhaps seeking a more rapid feeling in the prose, or perhaps to save time and effort in the old days of manual typesetting. Ap stylebook, also known by its full name the associated press stylebook and briefing on media law, is an english grammar style and usage guide created by american journalists working for or connected with the associated press to standardize mass communication. If there was an oxford comma after packing for shipment then neither packing not distribution would be covered by overtime pay.
Before we get into the differences between these four writing styles, we should explain them all a little more. Chicago is primarily used by authors, editors, and publishers of books and magazines. This practice is controversial and is known as the serial comma or oxford comma, because it is part of the house style of oxford university press. New yorklaw enforcement officials confirmed friday that four more copy editors were killed this week amid ongoing violence between two rival gangs divided by their loyalties to the the associated press stylebook and the chicago manual of style. I dont think i can ever let go of the oxford comma even if ap style says to.
An oxford comma is the final comma used before an and at the end of a list and is used to avoid ambiguity. This comma precedes the final item in a list or series, before the word and or or. Space limits are not a focus, so numbers through one hundred are spelled out, state names are spelled out, and my beloved oxford comma retains its prideful position. Its updated throughout the year and valuable onlineonly resources, including ask the editor, topical guides and pronunciation guide, expand on the print book s guidance. The associated press stylebook and briefing on media law official style guide of the associated press, a notforprofit news agency thats been around since 1846. Ap style, the oxford comma, and communication the daily campus. However, if the comma is necessary for clarity or if an integral part of the series includes a. It always appears before the coordinating conjunction. The oxford comma is forbidden by ap style, unless absolutely necessary to prevent confusion. Ap wants hyphens to literally go the way of the oxford comma. The venerable style guide you know and love, the ap stylebook, is having a big birthday. The venerable style guide you know and love, the ap stylebook. Serial commas and serial semicolons the mla style center. The best ap style cheat sheet every writer needs free.
883 1297 25 791 558 780 1323 970 924 489 434 203 847 408 387 946 1544 683 1306 1257 1164 897 457 1619 1219 841 1287 809 1059 3 773 622 466 320 192 245 246 611 780