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Oxford comma

Meaning of "Oxford comma" in the English dictionary

DICTIONARY

ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD OXFORD COMMA

Because it was traditionally a feature of the house style at Oxford University Press.

Etymology is the study of the origin of words and their changes in structure and significance.

PRONUNCIATION OF OXFORD COMMA

Oxford comma


GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF OXFORD COMMA

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Oxford comma is a noun.
A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.

WHAT DOES OXFORD COMMA MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Serial comma

In English punctuation, a serial comma or series comma is a comma placed immediately before the coordinating conjunction in a series of three or more terms. For example, a list of three countries might be punctuated either as "France, Italy, and Spain", or as "France, Italy and Spain". Opinions among writers and editors differ on whether to use the serial comma. In American English, a majority of style guides mandate use of the serial comma, including The MLA Style Manual, The Chicago Manual of Style, Strunk and White's Elements of Style, and the U.S. Government Printing Office Style Manual. The Associated Press Stylebook and the Stylebook published by The Canadian Press for journalistic writing advise against it. According to The Oxford Companion to the English Language, "Commas are used to separate items in a list or sequence... Usage varies as to the inclusion of a comma before and in the last item... 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.

Definition of Oxford comma in the English dictionary

The definition of Oxford comma in the dictionary is a comma between the final items in a list, often preceding the word `and' or `or', such as the final comma in the list newspapers, magazines, and books.

WORDS THAT BEGIN LIKE OXFORD COMMA

Oxbridge · oxcart · oxen · Oxenstierna · oxer · oxeye · oxeye daisy · OXFAM · Oxford · Oxford accent · Oxford bags · Oxford blue · Oxford Down · Oxford English · Oxford frame · Oxford Group · Oxford Movement · Oxfords · Oxfordshire

WORDS THAT END LIKE OXFORD COMMA

comma · dhamma · digamma · dilemma · emma · gamma · gemma · Glomma · gramma · gumma · inverted comma · lemma · limma · mamma · maremma · momma · on the horns of a dilemma · sarcolemma · stemma · summa

Synonyms and antonyms of Oxford comma in the English dictionary of synonyms

SYNONYMS

Translation of «Oxford comma» into 25 languages

TRANSLATOR

TRANSLATION OF OXFORD COMMA

Find out the translation of Oxford comma to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.

The translations of Oxford comma from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «Oxford comma» in English.
zh

Translator English - Chinese

牛津逗号
1,325 millions of speakers
es

Translator English - Spanish

Oxford comas
570 millions of speakers
en

English

Oxford comma
510 millions of speakers
hi

Translator English - Hindi

ऑक्सफोर्ड अल्पविराम
380 millions of speakers
ar

Translator English - Arabic

أكسفورد فاصلة
280 millions of speakers
ru

Translator English - Russian

Оксфорд запятая
278 millions of speakers
pt

Translator English - Portuguese

Oxford comma
270 millions of speakers
bn

Translator English - Bengali

অক্সফোর্ড কমা
260 millions of speakers
fr

Translator English - French

Oxford virgule
220 millions of speakers
ms

Translator English - Malay

Koma Oxford
190 millions of speakers
de

Translator English - German

Oxford Komma
180 millions of speakers
ja

Translator English - Japanese

オックスフォードのコンマ
130 millions of speakers
ko

Translator English - Korean

옥스포드 쉼표
85 millions of speakers
jv

Translator English - Javanese

Oxford koma
85 millions of speakers
vi

Translator English - Vietnamese

Oxford dấu phẩy
80 millions of speakers
ta

Translator English - Tamil

ஆக்ஸ்போர்டு கமா
75 millions of speakers
mr

Translator English - Marathi

ऑक्सफोर्ड कॉमा
75 millions of speakers
tr

Translator English - Turkish

Oxford virgül
70 millions of speakers
it

Translator English - Italian

Oxford virgola
65 millions of speakers
pl

Translator English - Polish

Oxford przecinek
50 millions of speakers
uk

Translator English - Ukrainian

Оксфорд кома
40 millions of speakers
ro

Translator English - Romanian

Oxford virgulă
30 millions of speakers
el

Translator English - Greek

Oxford κόμμα
15 millions of speakers
af

Translator English - Afrikaans

Oxford komma
14 millions of speakers
sv

Translator English - Swedish

Oxford kommatecken
10 millions of speakers
no

Translator English - Norwegian

Oxford komma
5 millions of speakers

Trends of use of Oxford comma

TRENDS

TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «OXFORD COMMA»

Principal search tendencies and common uses of Oxford comma
List of principal searches undertaken by users to access our English online dictionary and most widely used expressions with the word «Oxford comma».

Examples of use in the English literature, quotes and news about Oxford comma

EXAMPLES

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «OXFORD COMMA»

Discover the use of Oxford comma in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to Oxford comma and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.
1
Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to ...
Well, start waving and yelling, because it is the so-called Oxford comma (also known as the serial comma) and it is a lot more dangerous than its exclusive, ivory-tower moniker might suggest. There are people who embrace the Oxford comma ...
Lynne Truss, 2004
2
The Oxford Dictionary of American Usage and Style
The question whether to use the serial comma — or, as it's sometimes called, the "Harvard" comma or "Oxford" comma — is more vehemently argued than any other punctuation issue. Fashions in public-school textbooks and journalists' ...
Bryan A. Garner, 2000
3
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation: An Easy-to-Use ...
Note: When the last comma in a series comes before and or or (after daughter-in- law in the above example), it is known as the Oxford comma. Most newspapers and magazines drop the Oxford comma in a simple series, apparently feeling it's  ...
Jane Straus, Lester Kaufman, Tom Stern, 2014
4
Oxford Comma (Song)
Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online.
Richie Krishna Fergus, 2012
5
Grammar and Usage, Naturally
Some grammar texts have referred to the Oxford comma as optional, but most style guides still call for its use. Most academic institutions and professors still expect to see the Oxford comma, so for the purposes of this chapter, the last comma ...
Larry Barkley, Christine Sandoval, 2014
6
What Made The Crocodile Cry?: 101 Questions about the ...
The band Vampire Weekend has recorded a song called 'Oxford Comma'. I've always wondered what the Oxford comma really is. he lead singer of Vampire Weekend, Ezra Koenig, has said that his song is more about life than a particular  ...
Susie Dent, 2009
7
Slip of the Tongue: Talking About Language
One egregious example of this, in my view, is the “debate” that's been raging about the Oxford comma. Oh Lord, Ifeel sotiredthinking about the Oxford commathing, Ican barely muster the energy to tell you aboutit. But don't worry everybody, ...
Katie Haegele, 2014
8
Little Red Book: Punctuation
The Oxford comma is much more widespread in American English than British English. When using the Oxford comma, all items in a list of three or more items are separated. For Example: a- I love apples, pears, and oranges. NOTE: Note the ...
Derek O Brien, 2012
9
How to Write a Memoir in 30 Days: Step-by-Step Instructions ...
Nowyou know that trick, too. Clear Communication: The Oxford (Serial) Comma and Joe. The commas in this sentence clarify that the. The Oxford comma. You may not know it by name, but you know it when you see it. The Oxford comma is the ...
Roberta PHD Temes, 2014
10
The Oxford Guide to Style
Moreover, if one uses the Oxford comma consistently, its intentional absence clarifies the sense instantly: He was not above medium height, dapper and handsome. A comma after dapper would compel the not to apply to three characteristics, ...
Robert M. Ritter, 2002

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «OXFORD COMMA»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term Oxford comma is used in the context of the following news items.
1
DEAR READER: Weaving together lexicographical lessons for a …
It turns out the writers of the U.S. Declaration of Independence were not fans of the Oxford comma, a little tidbit of punctuation history that I ... «Columbia Missourian, Jul 15»
2
Movie Review: 'Phoenix'
Notice how he just used an Oxford comma? He's kind of pretentious like that. Related ItemsChristian PetzoldFeaturedHarun FarockNina ... «The Young Folks, Jul 15»
3
Because excitement can happen mid-sentence, introducing the …
People need reference books to know when to use them and we journalists are downright touchy over the Oxford comma. But here's the real ... «AL.com, Jul 15»
4
'Paper Towns' Soundtrack Songs Ranked From Least Road Trip …
As far as Vampire Weekend tracks go, this one is pretty downbeat and nondescript. A better choice would be “Unbelievers” or “Oxford Comma,” if it's Ezra Koenig ... «Bustle, Jul 15»
5
Movie Review: 'Paper Towns'
Notice how he just used an Oxford comma? He's kind of pretentious like that. Related ItemsAustin Abramscara delevingneFeaturedHalston ... «The Young Folks, Jul 15»
6
Digital Shift: The Cultural Logic of Punctuation, by Jeff Scheible
Sometimes they matter more than they should: how much ink has been spilled over the Oxford comma? Sometimes they do not matter enough: ... «Times Higher Education, Jul 15»
7
Movie Review: 'Irrational Man'
Notice how he just used an Oxford comma? He's kind of pretentious like that. Related ItemsEmma StoneFeaturedIrrational ManJoaquin ... «The Young Folks, Jul 15»
8
Looking Back at the Launch of The Escapist and Lessons Learned
... use the Oxford comma as part of our style guidelines. Themis was already a very lean shop, and everyone worked hard and wore lots of hats. «The Escapist, Jul 15»
9
Why You Need to be Using the Oxford Comma
The history of the Oxford Comma goes back to when it was traditionally used at the Oxford University Press by printers, readers, and editors. «Business 2 Community, Jul 15»
10
The Blog Doctor: Yo' Comma's So Fat, When It Separates a List They …
The first sentence employs a comma before the and, which is known as the Oxford comma. In the above example, using the Oxford comma has ... «Business 2 Community, Jul 15»
REFERENCE
« EDUCALINGO. Oxford comma [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/oxford-comma>. May 2024 ».
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