{"id":1237,"date":"2025-04-23T23:34:58","date_gmt":"2025-04-23T23:34:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=1237"},"modified":"2025-07-30T21:51:23","modified_gmt":"2025-07-30T21:51:23","slug":"commas-apply-it","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/chapter\/commas-apply-it\/","title":{"raw":"Commas: Apply It","rendered":"Commas: Apply It"},"content":{"raw":"<section aria-label=\"Learning Goals\"><section class=\"textbox learningGoals\" aria-label=\"Learning Goals\">\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><span data-sheets-root=\"1\">Demonstrate how to use commas as separators<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><span data-sheets-root=\"1\">Demonstrate how to use commas with conjunctions and in lists<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><span data-sheets-root=\"1\">Recognize the correct uses of commas<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/section><\/section>\r\n<h2>The Oxford Comma<\/h2>\r\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"264\" data-end=\"525\">You might not expect a tiny comma to stir up strong opinions\u2014but the Oxford comma has been causing controversy in the writing world for decades. Also known as the serial comma, it\u2019s the comma placed before the final <em data-start=\"488\" data-end=\"493\">and<\/em> or <em data-start=\"497\" data-end=\"501\">or<\/em> in a list.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"718\" data-end=\"1125\">Some style guides insist you <em data-start=\"747\" data-end=\"753\">must<\/em> use it. Others say it\u2019s optional. Who's right? What do you prefer?<\/p>\r\n\r\n<section class=\"textbox watchIt\" aria-label=\"Watch It\">Watch this video to learn about the importance of the Oxford comma, and how it can prevent unnecessary confusion (and legal action!).\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/iframe_api \"><\/script>\r\n<p class=\"cc-media-iframe-container\"><iframe id=\"tpm-plugin-efafdgbf-Z77OTpXgZLE\" class=\"cc-media-iframe\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Z77OTpXgZLE?enablejsapi=1 \" frameborder=\"0\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"3p-plugin-target-efafdgbf-Z77OTpXgZLE\" class=\"p3sdk-target\"><\/div>\r\n<p class=\"cc-media-iframe-container\"><script type='text\/javascript' src='\/\/plugin.3playmedia.com\/ajax.js?cc=1&cc_minimizable=1&cc_minimize_on_load=0&cc_multi_text_track=0&cc_overlay=1&cc_searchable=0&embed=ajax&mf=13492129&p3sdk_version=1.11.7&p=20361&player_type=youtube&plugin_skin=dark&target=3p-plugin-target-efafdgbf-Z77OTpXgZLE&vembed=0&video_id=Z77OTpXgZLE&video_target=tpm-plugin-efafdgbf-Z77OTpXgZLE'><\/script><\/p>\r\nYou can view the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/course-building.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/English+Comp\/Transcripts\/Is+the+Oxford+Comma+Controversial%3F_transcript.txt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">transcript for \u201cIs the Oxford Comma Controversial?\u201d here (opens in new window).<\/a>\r\n\r\n<\/section><section class=\"textbox tryIt\" aria-label=\"Try It\">[ohm2_question hide_question_numbers=1]40652[\/ohm2_question][ohm2_question hide_question_numbers=1]40653[\/ohm2_question]\r\n\r\n<\/section>","rendered":"<section aria-label=\"Learning Goals\">\n<section class=\"textbox learningGoals\" aria-label=\"Learning Goals\">\n<ul>\n<li><span data-sheets-root=\"1\">Demonstrate how to use commas as separators<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-sheets-root=\"1\">Demonstrate how to use commas with conjunctions and in lists<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-sheets-root=\"1\">Recognize the correct uses of commas<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<h2>The Oxford Comma<\/h2>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"264\" data-end=\"525\">You might not expect a tiny comma to stir up strong opinions\u2014but the Oxford comma has been causing controversy in the writing world for decades. Also known as the serial comma, it\u2019s the comma placed before the final <em data-start=\"488\" data-end=\"493\">and<\/em> or <em data-start=\"497\" data-end=\"501\">or<\/em> in a list.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"718\" data-end=\"1125\">Some style guides insist you <em data-start=\"747\" data-end=\"753\">must<\/em> use it. Others say it\u2019s optional. Who&#8217;s right? What do you prefer?<\/p>\n<section class=\"textbox watchIt\" aria-label=\"Watch It\">Watch this video to learn about the importance of the Oxford comma, and how it can prevent unnecessary confusion (and legal action!).<br \/>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/iframe_api\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p class=\"cc-media-iframe-container\"><iframe id=\"tpm-plugin-efafdgbf-Z77OTpXgZLE\" class=\"cc-media-iframe\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Z77OTpXgZLE?enablejsapi=1\" frameborder=\"0\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div id=\"3p-plugin-target-efafdgbf-Z77OTpXgZLE\" class=\"p3sdk-target\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"cc-media-iframe-container\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/\/plugin.3playmedia.com\/ajax.js?cc=1&#38;cc_minimizable=1&#38;cc_minimize_on_load=0&#38;cc_multi_text_track=0&#38;cc_overlay=1&#38;cc_searchable=0&#38;embed=ajax&#38;mf=13492129&#38;p3sdk_version=1.11.7&#38;p=20361&#38;player_type=youtube&#38;plugin_skin=dark&#38;target=3p-plugin-target-efafdgbf-Z77OTpXgZLE&#38;vembed=0&#38;video_id=Z77OTpXgZLE&#38;video_target=tpm-plugin-efafdgbf-Z77OTpXgZLE\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>You can view the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/course-building.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/English+Comp\/Transcripts\/Is+the+Oxford+Comma+Controversial%3F_transcript.txt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">transcript for \u201cIs the Oxford Comma Controversial?\u201d here (opens in new window).<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"textbox tryIt\" aria-label=\"Try It\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"ohm40652\" class=\"resizable\" src=\"https:\/\/ohm.one.lumenlearning.com\/multiembedq.php?id=40652&theme=lumen&iframe_resize_id=ohm40652&source=tnh\" width=\"100%\" height=\"150\"><\/iframe><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"ohm40653\" class=\"resizable\" src=\"https:\/\/ohm.one.lumenlearning.com\/multiembedq.php?id=40653&theme=lumen&iframe_resize_id=ohm40653&source=tnh\" width=\"100%\" height=\"150\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"menu_order":20,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"copyrighted_video\",\"description\":\"Is the Oxford Comma Controversial?\",\"author\":\"\",\"organization\":\"Bloomberg Law\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/Z77OTpXgZLE\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"arr\",\"license_terms\":\"Standard YouTube License\"}]","pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"part":180,"module-header":"apply_it","content_attributions":[{"type":"copyrighted_video","description":"Is the Oxford Comma Controversial?","author":"","organization":"Bloomberg 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