What Is the Oxford Comma?
(Fowler, 2017)
The Oxford comma is the last comma in a list of items. For example, in the sentence “Please bring me a pencil, eraser, and notebook,” the comma after “eraser” is the Oxford comma. Different style guides have their own recommendations on its usage. For instance, AP style, commonly used by U.S.
journalists, often omits it.
牛津逗號是列舉項目中的最後一個逗號。舉例來說，在「請給我一支鉛筆、橡皮擦，和筆記本」這句話中，「橡皮擦」後的逗號就是牛津逗號。不同的寫作風格指南對其使用有各自的建議，例如在美國廣為使用的AP風格中，這個逗號通常會被省略。
Considerations for Using the Oxford Comma
牛津逗號的使用考慮
The Oxford comma is not universally mandatory but helps to clarify meaning. Some sentences can be ambiguous or misleading without it. Conversely, there are cases where the comma could cause confusion.
牛津逗號的使用並不是普遍強制的，但它有助於釐清意義。有些句子如果不使用它可能會產生模糊或誤導。相反地，也有情況下使用逗號會引起混淆。
Examples 例子
- Jane attended a meeting and saw her colleagues, the CEO, and Dr. Smith. (Correct use)
Jane參加了會議，遇到了她的同事、CEO，和 Smith。 (正確使用) - Jane spoke with her manager, the CEO, and Dr. Smith. (Incorrect, implies the manager is the CEO)
Jane和她的經理、CEO，和 Smith談話。 (錯誤，暗示經理是CEO)
Examples and Exceptions
例子與例外
Here are some situations where the Oxford comma can clarify meaning:
- I enjoy reading, swimming, and painting.
我喜歡閱讀、游泳，和繪畫。
And others where its omission could lead to confusion:
- I love my parents, my dog and my cat. (Ambiguous)
我愛我的父母、我的狗和我的貓。（模糊）
Consistency is Important
一致性很重要
It’s crucial to be consistent when using the Oxford comma, especially in lists. Either use it throughout your text or don’t, but stick to one style.
在使用牛津逗號時，一致性是非常重要的，特別是在列舉項目中。無論你選擇使用或不使用，都應貫徹始終。
Example 例子：
- For lunch, I had a sandwich, chips, and a soda. For dinner, I had pasta, garlic bread, and wine.
午餐，我吃了三明治、薯片，和汽水。晚餐，我吃了義大利麵、大蒜麵包，和葡萄酒。
OR
- For lunch, I had a sandwich, chips and a soda. For dinner, I had pasta, garlic bread and wine.
午餐，我吃了三明治、薯片和汽水。晚餐，我吃了義大利麵、大蒜麵包和葡萄酒。
Choose one style and stick with it to maintain consistency.
選擇一種風格，然後堅持使用，以維持一致性。
In short, the Oxford comma serves as a tool for clarifying the meaning in a list of three or more items. While its usage may vary depending on stylistic preferences and guidelines, it is important to be consistent. Remember, the primary aim of punctuation is to clarify written communication, so choose wisely whether to use the Oxford comma to enhance readability and remove ambiguity.
簡言之，牛津逗號是一個用於澄清三個或更多項目列表中含義的工具。雖然其使用可能因風格偏好和指南而有所不同，但保持一致性是非常重要的。請記住，標點符號的主要目的是為了澄清書面溝通，因此，明智地選擇是否使用牛津逗號以提高可讀性並消除歧義。
Image source:
Fowler, K. (2017). The Oxford Comma [Digital image]. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2017/03/19/opinions/oxford-comma-ambiguity-opinion-mcwhorter/index.html