The 2 methods to jot down three issues in a listing, “A, B and C” and “A, B, and C,” are each appropriate. The second is an instance of an Oxford comma and may also help stop confusion about grouping gadgets in a listing. Subsequently, use a comma earlier than “and” if doubtful.
Whether or not you place an Oxford comma earlier than “and,” also referred to as a serial comma, is not so necessary.
Subsequently, each of those examples are appropriate:
- Appropriate: You may select between contestants A, B and C to accomplice with you within the closing.
- Appropriate: You may select between contestants A, B, and C to accomplice with you within the closing.
Within the first of the above two examples, some could say you could select between a mix of A or B + C. Subsequently, to keep away from confusion it’s best to make use of a comma earlier than the “and.”
Hold studying the remainder of the article to be taught extra about punctuation with “A, B, and C.” Additionally, you may see examples of when not placing the Oxford comma can create confusion.
A, B, and C
Utilizing a comma to jot down “A, B, and C” is appropriate and is the most popular approach to jot down it if you wish to keep away from doable confusion.
If you want, you may omit the serial comma from earlier than “and.” Nonetheless, it’s higher to incorporate the comma to be as simple as doable.
- For this query, A, B, and C are all incorrect, and D is the right reply.
- Routes A, B, and C are all viable choices.
For those who needed to group B and C collectively for some cause, you may omit the comma between the choices.
Nonetheless, issues begin getting complicated while you do that, and other people could interpret it in a different way.
- You may select both A, B and C, or D.
Subsequently, to keep away from confusion, it’s best to incorporate a comma earlier than the ultimate merchandise in a listing and to separate the choices clearly.
- You may select from both A, D, or B and C. (B & C are collectively)
- You may select from both A, B, C, or D. (All choices are separate)
A, B and C
Excluding the comma between the final two gadgets on the finish of a listing is appropriate when it doesn’t create ambiguity.
Within the case of “A, B and C,” if you happen to can specific with the opposite phrases within the sentence that the choice is “one,” then it’s advantageous to not have a comma.
- I do know the reply isn’t D, however A, B and C all look appropriate to me.
Nonetheless, not having a comma earlier than “and” or one other conjunction can create confusion in different conditions.
On this sentence, we have no idea whether or not her mother and father are the 2 folks talked about on the finish:
- She was excited concerning the live performance as a result of she noticed her mother and father, Michael Jackson and Beyonce.
Whereas after we embrace the Oxford comma, it’s clear that she noticed each her mother and father in addition to Michael Jackson and Beyonce:
- She was excited concerning the live performance as a result of she noticed her mother and father, Michael Jackson, and Beyonce.
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