oxford comma scientific writing dissertation

For those in need of a grammar rules refresh, here’s why an extra comma matters. One must take many things into consideration from both sender and receiver positions. I’ve been in favor of only using the serial comma in specific circumstances since becoming a journalist.

As you might gather, I also like proof-reading other writers’ efforts! YAY!!!! Anyways, I could not resist pointing out to you that: It is not more better to use more before better as it just sounds unnecessary. Christiana Sherman Closed-minded prescriptivist thinking like this is limiting, pointless and arrogant.

PhD Thesis Editing Scientific Editing I sure didn’t see them! Do you like ham with your eggs? Without the serial comma: New materials compositions, advanced manufacturing techniques such as additive manufacturing and robotics and increased strategies for materials recycling and reuse will help make materials in our everyday lives more affordable and energy efficient. The extra comma, probably does not completely resolve it. Shame on the legislature….for both it’s wanton disregard for it’s state’s residents, as well as it’s lack of grammatical understanding. “The judge is 100% correct to have ruled the way they did.” ‘He,’ I think. A common defence of people who like to avoid the serial comma is that examples like these two could simply be rephrased to avoid the confusion, and this is true. It saddens me that we’ve turned away from important punctuation, and our young adults often have no idea they’re writing incorrect contracts and documents. To my eye, using the comma balances the sentence better. I’m a stickler for this rule and for good reason! It seems like you are old school when it comes to grammar. This cannot be dismissed or disregarded. Here’s the gist of it (and this is an example of my point, that if you see ambiguity, the use of the Oxford comma is not the solution. Book Editing She is currently the Managing Editor of Money Crashers. Great article!

Most of the time all it needs is to make the point in the plural.

And yes to not referring to a person as “they.” As in, “I just went through a divorce because they were physically abusive to me.” This contributes mightily to my high blood pressure. To nit-pick: “I went to Vegas with Keith, a clown, and my pastor” can also be construed as going with two people: “Keith, [who is] a clown, and my pastor.” In this case, more than the Oxford comma is needed to clarify. Clarity, simplicity. My advice to the employer: keep it simple; “We do not pay overtime.”, I enjoyed reading the article and the comments. Thank you for the kind words Bob. When I write I often charge along in a stream of consciousness without very many commas.

Let’s spread the word on this bold change, conditionally endorsed by AP and CMOS. I don’t want to correct Holly. At proofreading services we pride ourselves on the exceptionally dedicated team of academic and scientific professionals who provide our English editing and proofreading services. 877.489.0353, Our perspectives on the way we work and the world we work in. Use them as you would pause in normal speech. The first example uses an Oxford Comma, the comma before "and," but the second example does not. In any case, the Oxford comma is not a solution. What you say is beside the point. Required fields are marked *. A serial comma could mean the difference between a quick decision on funding a game-changing technology or time wasted trying to figure out confusing language. Kevin, the only way your argument works in this case is when you change the plural “strippers” to the singular “stripper.” Yes, your argument works for the example of your wife, Lisa, and Brandon. The serial comma is the comma … Never after, but, for avoidance of doubt, subordinate clause commas aren’t counted. But either way, the reader will always have a lot of interpretation work to. Yippee!! Go forth and rewrite! “So goes one of my favorite lyrics by Vampire Weekend, and the answer to date has largely been: grammar nerds, Strunk & White and those who follow the infamous Chicago vs. AP style debate.”. When it comes to science writing, the serial comma is a must.

Here, the commas are used in the same way you might use parentheses. Correct Holly? Judy Eisenhauer

Jenn Ganss I was at the national conference of ACES: Society for Editing where these dabates play out annually, but this battle is done. Ideal for editors, writers and all-out grammar nerds. The Oxford comma is the easiest and clearest way to keep it simple.

Conference Paper Editing Maybe an oversimplified example, but just two items are never written separated by only a comma. In engineering, technical, and scientific writing, the use of this comma is essential because in these fields, ambiguity can be hazardous, costly, and confusing (if not irritating). I tend to use semi-colons in a list following a colon where each list item requires or is expressed with additional description. If you are in the process of preparing an article for an academic or scientific journal, or planning one for the near future, you may well be interested in a new book, Guide to Journal Publication, which is available on our Tips and Advice on Publishing Research in Journals website. Plant Science Editing For example: I am on a rollercoaster and I tell the person next to me, “This is so fun,” but they can’t hear my message because of our environment. This is why AP Style, which seeks to save on the cost of ink in the most asinine manner imaginable, is just flat out wrong. The Onion even joked that the Oxford comma could be at the center of an editing feud that could push innocent bystanders to the brink of insanity. Archaeology Editing That’s the sort of sentence where I would write: “I have a cat, a dog and a gerbil.” The indefinite article “a” clarifies the sense (I am not addressing my pet “dog” and pet “gerbil”), but no comma (Oxford or any other sort) is needed because “and” joins the last two nouns in the list of animals which I own (or, at least in the case of the cat, which own me).

Only one small grammar error (hehehe). If you want lucid writing, use the Oxfor comma. As a graduate student, your dissertation is most likely the longest piece of work you have ever written and knowing where to start or how to go about it can be a little intimidating. The doctor prescribed oxandrolone, which is an anabolic steroid, to the patient. Ah, but without it, you are addressing JFK and Stalin to let them know that you have invited the stripper. Yes! “I have a cat, dog and gerbil.” I agree with not using it when it’s simple and quick to tell that it’s logically redundant. by Here’s what the serial comma achieves. Deploying that simple comma is always grammatically correct, even if stylistically it could be challenged. Wow, that was hard to read, even for me.

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