Oxford comma
List item separator
The Oxford comma is a comma placed before the final conjunction in a list of three or more items: We invited the strippers, JFK, and Stalin.
Without it, ambiguity can arise—are the strippers JFK and Stalin, or three separate guests?
Also called the serial comma.
Style guides disagree on whether it's required, making it a perennial subject of debate among editors and grammar enthusiasts.
Ordered set of related items
- enumerationSequential listing of items
- conjunctionWord joining clauses together
- separatorSomething that divides
- andTogether with also
or · nor · punctuation mark
Openness to multiple interpretations
- disambiguationRemoving uncertainty about meaning
- misreadingIncorrect interpretation of text
- parsingGrammatical structure extraction
- conjunctionWord joining clauses together
sentence structure · meaning · interpretation · comprehension · precision · explicitness · legal documents
Consistent editorial conventions
- conventionAgreed standard of behavior
- consistencyReliable adherence to standards
- formalityStrict observance of convention
- academic writingFormal research communication
journalism · publishing · Associated Press · MLA · APA · professional writing
Supporters of a position
- opponentsThose who compete against
- style guidesWriting convention references
- prescriptiveDictating correct usage
- descriptivePortraying with specific details
editorial standards · academic argument · AP style · mandatory · optional · traditionalists · modernists · copy editors
series
Ordered set of related items
- enumerationSequential listing of items
- conjunctionWord joining clauses together
- separatorSomething that divides
and · or · nor · punctuation mark
ambiguity
Openness to multiple interpretations
- disambiguationRemoving uncertainty about meaning
- misreadingIncorrect interpretation of text
- parsingGrammatical structure extraction
conjunction · sentence structure · meaning · interpretation · comprehension · precision · explicitness · legal documents
house style
Consistent editorial conventions
- conventionAgreed standard of behavior
- consistencyReliable adherence to standards
- formalityStrict observance of convention
academic writing · journalism · publishing · Associated Press · MLA · APA · professional writing
proponents
Supporters of a position
- opponentsThose who compete against
- style guidesWriting convention references
- prescriptiveDictating correct usage
descriptive · editorial standards · academic argument · AP style · mandatory · optional · traditionalists · modernists · copy editors · house style
- writing rulespunctuation, capitalization, spelling, apostrophes, periods
- Style GuidesStrunk and White, stylebook, editorial guidelines, AP style, house style
- editingediting, cut, copy, paste, delete
- punctuationperiod, colon, apostrophe, semicolon, question mark
- OxbridgeOxbridge, Cambridge University, Exeter, Hertford, Lincoln