This resource, revised according to the associated press stylebook 2012, offers examples for the general format of ap style. The ap style book is a book for journalists which is updated annually. How to use commas in associated press style pen and the pad. I ate scrambled eggs, french toast and apple juice. However, for apa style, when the numbers involve exact times, dates, ages, scores, points on a scale, or. The style guide that newspaper reporters use, ap style, doesnt require use of the oxford comma. Before the party began, mary prepared all of the food, cleaned up the kitchen and chilled the wine. But news writing has traditionally omitted the serial comma perhaps seeking a more rapid feeling in the prose, or perhaps to save time and. Which style guides require the use of the serial comma.
If youre new to news writing or switching from one to another, youll want to keep this ap cheat sheet handy and refer to it when in doubt. However, if the comma is necessary for clarity or if an integral part of the series includes a conjunction, it should be added. For instance, in the below sentence, the oxford comma is placed before and. Thats where internal usage and style guides come in. Though the oxford comma, also known as the serial comma, is mandatory in certain legal documents, ap style calls for it to be used only when absolutely necessary to avoid confusion. 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. One of these is its neglection of the oxford comma.
The first style book to recommend using the serial comma came out in 1905 in england. If there was an oxford comma after packing for shipment then neither packing not distribution would be covered by overtime pay. As mentioned above, this is the comma that appears before a conjunction such as and or or in a series. In the current edition of the blue book of grammar and punctuation and on the website, we have stated a preference for use of the serial, or oxford, comma. Why law firms need usage and style guides attorney at work. 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. Style guides for book and academic publishing generally would insist on another comma after pears, the socalled serial comma or oxford comma. Inspired designs on tshirts, posters, stickers, home decor, and more by independent artists and designers from around the world. 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 the hyphen will be relegated to the same battlefield. Serial commas and serial semicolons by erika suffern serial commas. Most clients in the b2b world will base their style on either ap or chicago style. It is also required by the chicago manual of style and mla style. Ap s stance is to omit the serial comma except when it prevents misreading, and chicagos stance is to always include itfor the same reason.
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. Learning ap style, which loathes commas, has been a challenge as a. Associated press style guide ap style the serial commaoxford commas. One of the reasons that this little punctuation mark is so controversial is that it is not a requirement of grammar. Ap and apa both spell out numbers below 10 and use numerals for numbers 10 and over. In sutcliffes book, he names it the oxford comma because horace hart. You would obviously swipe left, out of fear of matching with someone who doesnt use the oxford comma. There are several distinctions that are made in the chicago manual of style.
This comma precedes the final item in a list or series, before the word and or or. 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. Last week the ap updated its style guide and sortabutnotquitekilled the rule on hyphens. The chicago manual of style and the mla and apa style guides recommend using the oxford comma. Youre reading a book, and the first page says, dedicated to my parents, tina fey and god.
The venerable style guide you know and love, the ap stylebook, is having a big birthday. Serial commas and serial semicolons the mla style center. Ap stylethe style guide that newspaper reporters adhere todoes not require the use of the oxford comma. An oxford comma is the final comma used before an and at the end of a list and is used to avoid ambiguity. If you have any suggestions, corrections, or updates, ill post them here. So the example i used above would read like this without the oxford comma. Oxford or serial comma as mentioned above, this is the comma that appears before a conjunction such as and or or in a series.
The new ap stylebook will not end the oxford comma debate. The oxford comma is used more often in nonjournalistic prose. Its a matter of style what an exciting journey for creating opportunities to help businesses reach their customer base while seeing great ways to enrich our families and grow by leaps and bounds as we give others new insights that that help their businesses grow. The serial comma, also called the oxford comma, is the comma that comes before the final conjunction in a list. Ap style, the oxford comma, and communication the daily. The sentence above written in ap style would look like this.
But if i remove the comma to adhere to ap style, then we get at the heart of the oxford comma debate. Here are a few clarifications from textbroker for where we stand on these issues. Why oxford comma enthusiasts are all over tinder gq. Ap style thats the associated press stylebook, which many journalists live by does not use an oxford comma. Two major styles differ on the use of the serial comma. The oxford comma occurs before the and in the following sentence. Thats the associated press for those of you not in the know. 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. Some people believe the stylebook bans oxford commas, but we use. The jumper is available in green, yellow, and black and white. The ap stylebook, the style bible of journalists and online writers, says not to use the oxford comma in a simple series unless its needed to. On the infinite blank page of the internet, most newspapers still omit the oxford comma, in accordance with ap style. While the oxford comma obviously serves an important purpose, many journalistic publications rigidly follow ap style and do not allow their.
This page was created as a place to neatly sort references that we might need from time to time. A comma is used to separate an introductory clause or phrase from the main clause. While its not necessary to know everything about the chicago manual before writing your book, its helpful to know a few thingslike the. But when you join three or more elements, the preferred rule requires a comma before the coordinating conjunction. Admittedly, adopting ap style wont end all debates. It provides guidelines for spelling, language, journalistic style and punctuation, including the oxford comma. When you use a coordinating conjunction to join two elements of a series, no comma comes before the conjunction. These resources provide an overview of journalistic writing with explanations of the most important and most often used elements of journalism and the associated press style. What is the oxford comma and why is it so important. The new stylebook emphasizes that clarity is the bottom line. However, if the comma is necessary for clarity or if an integral part of the series includes a. Broadly speaking, the oxford comma is the final comma in a list of things, usually located before the and in the sentence. Perhaps no mark of punctuation ruffles feathers more than the serial comma also called series comma, oxford comma, and harvard comma.
Ap allows for the oxford comma in cases where ambiguity could occur. When he had tired of the mad pace of new york, he moved to. Questions about the oxford comma are the most common. Rule 1to avoid confusion, use commas to separate words and word groups with a series of three or more. Learning ap style, which loathes commas, has been a challenge as a commahappy english major.
At the times, the stylebook, sensibly, recommends against serial commas except when needed for clarity in the example above, we typically wouldnt put a comma after rome. Use of the oxford comma is stylistic, meaning that some style guides demand its use while others dont. The 2019 edition of the associated press stylebook and briefing on media law. Ap style is to not include a comma before the conjunction in a simple series like the flag is red, white and blue. Some writing styles such as the ap style which newspaper reporters often usedoes not require the oxford comma. This sentence uses the oxford comma but is not written in ap style. In some style guides, such as that of the associated press ap, the only time an oxford comma is used is when it is necessary in order to accurately understand the sentence. The associated press has a stylebook with rules and standards used primarily in journalistic and news writing. Aps stance is to omit the serial comma except when it prevents misreading, and. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. Using my example above, my fellow hodgers know that the three accounts i listed are just that. Lets take a look at how the sentences above will look written in ap style. The guidelines help writers present clear and concise information with consistent structure to keep readers focused. Ive noticed many people use it inconsistently, probably because weve been taught different things at different times.
Usage of the oxford comma varies depending on what youre writing. Ap style, the oxford comma, and communication the daily campus. The family meal was soup, fish and chips, and ice cream. If youre writing a novel or a work of nonfiction for the general market, yes. Do you know the big differences between ap, apa, chicago. Lets change ap style for my sanity and the oxford comma.
Unlike other punctuation, the oxford comma stirs up. This style guide is mainly used in most longform publishing. Use a comma before the last conjunction in a complex series of phrases. It covers much more than the ap stylebook, which generally covers only common words and their usage. Should you use a comma before and in a list of words. Ap wants hyphens to literally go the way of the oxford comma. There are 11 simple rules that govern the comma in ap style. In general, magazines and newspapers discourage it in order to save ink and space but the new yorker is an exception. With the exception of newspapers, most publications use the serial comma, because it helps writers. As such, ap style errors in press releases are glaringly obvious to reporters and could turn them off from considering a press release. This comma is known as the serial comma, or oxford comma. Ap associated press and apa american psychological association.
Spiralbound book, updated each spring 2019 ap stylebook. Should i always use the chicago manual of style when writing a book. While ap style is largely sound, there are a few rules that are quite subjective. Below is a list of the top ap style tips that every pr professional should know and some of the most commonly made mistakes. But mastering the 500page book, which is updated every year, can be a daunting task. However, there are clear areas where ap style fails in its goal to facilitate consistency, clarity, accuracy, and brevity. That final comma before the and in a list is called an oxford comma, or serial comma. Oxford style requires the use of the comma to avoid confusion, hence the name oxford comma. The issue with the contract is unique because its written in shorthand, which is why ambiguity could easily occur the omission of certain conjunctions occurs.