Wikipedia

Serial comma

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The serial comma (also known as the Oxford comma or Harvard comma) is the comma used immediately before a conjunction (such as "and" or "or") in a list of three or more items. The phrase "ham, chips, and eggs" is written with a serial comma, but "ham, chips and eggs" is not.

The main justification for the serial comma is to reduce ambiguity, although both its absence and its presence can, in fact, produce it. The use or omission of the serial comma also produces different rhythms in a sentence.

The terms "Oxford comma" and "Harvard comma" come from Oxford University Press and Harvard University Press, where use of the serial comma is the house style.

Resolving ambiguity

Use of the serial comma can remove ambiguity. The apocryphal book dedication, "To my parents, Ayn Rand and God", creates ambiguity about the writer's parentage, because "Ayn Rand and God" can be read as an apposition to "my parents". A comma before "and" removes the ambiguity ("To my parents, Ayn Rand, and God").

Consider: "My favourite types of sandwiches are BLT, ham, peanut butter and jam and cream cheese." This is ambiguous because "jam" may be paired with either "peanut butter" or "cream cheese". A comma after "jam" can clarify this sentence: "My favourite types of sandwiches are BLT, ham, peanut butter and jam, and cream cheese."

Creating ambiguity

Use of the serial comma can introduce ambiguity.

Consider "They went to Oregon with Betty, a maid, and a cook." The presence of the last comma creates the possibility that Betty is a maid, reasonably allowing either reading, context aside. Removing the comma leaves the possibility that Betty is both a maid and a cook, but such is highly unlikely, so the list will be read as:

  1. Betty
  2. maid
  3. cook

A writer who intends for Betty, the maid, and the cook to be three distinct people will create an ambiguous sentence regardless of whether the serial comma is adopted. If the reader is unaware of which convention is being used, both sentences are always ambiguous. These forms would remove the ambiguity:

  • They went to Oregon with Betty, a maid and cook. (One person.)
  • They went to Oregon with Betty, who is a maid and cook. (One person.)
  • They went to Oregon with Betty (a maid) and a cook. (Two people.)
  • They went to Oregon with Betty—a maid—and a cook. (Two people.)
  • They went to Oregon with Betty and a maid and a cook. (Three people.)
  • They went to Oregon with a full staff: Betty; a maid; and a cook. (Three people.)
  • They went to Oregon with a maid, a cook, and Betty. (Three people.)
  • They went to Oregon with a maid, a cook and Betty. (Three people.)

Usage

The Chicago Manual of Style, Strunk and White's Elements of Style, most authorities on American English and Canadian English, and many authorities on British English — for example, Oxford University Press and Fowler's Modern English Usage — recommend the use of the serial comma. Newspaper style guides, such as those published by The New York Times, the Associated Press, and the Canadian Press recommend against it for reasons of space. For this reason the lack of a serial comma is sometimes referred to as the "editorial comma."

In Australia, the United Kingdom, and South Africa, the serial comma tends not to be used in non-academic publications unless its absence produces ambiguity. Many academic publishers (e.g. Cambridge University Press) also avoid it, though some academic publishing houses in these countries do use it. The Australian Government Publishing Service's Style Manual for Authors, Editors and Printers recommends against it.

Style guides supporting mandatory use

After each member within a series of three or more words, phrases, letters, or figures used with and, or, or nor.

  • "red, white, and blue"
  • "horses, mules, and cattle; but horses and mules and cattle"
  • "by the bolt, by the yard, or in remnants"
  • "a, b, and c"
  • "neither snow, rain, nor heat"
  • "2 days, 3 hours, and 4 minutes (series); but 70 years 11 months 6 days (age)"
  • Wilson Follett's Modern American Usage: A Guide (Random House, 1981), pp. 397-401:

What, then, are the arguments for omitting the last comma? Only one is cogent — the saving of space. In the narrow width of a newspaper column this saving counts for more than elsewhere, which is why the omission is so nearly universal in journalism. But here or anywhere one must question whether the advantage outweighs the confusion caused by the omission ...

The recommendation here is that [writers] use the comma between all members of a series, including the last two, on the common-sense ground that to do so will preclude ambiguities and annoyances at a negligible cost." [1]

In a series consisting of three or more elements, the elements are separated by commas. When a conjunction joins the last two elements in a series, a comma is used before the conjunction ...

  • "Attending the conference were Farmer, Johnson, and Kendrick.

Use a comma between elements (including before and and or) in a series of three or more items.

  • the height, width, or depth
  • in a study by Stacy, Newcomb, and Bentler
  • The Elements of Style:

    In a series of three or more terms with a single conjunction, use a comma after each term except the last.

Style guides opposing mandatory use

Avoid the so-called Oxford comma; say 'he ate bread, butter and jam' rather than 'he ate bread, butter, and jam'." [3]

Do not put a comma before and at the end of a sequence of items unless one of the items includes another and. Thus 'The doctor suggested an aspirin, half a grapefruit and a cup of broth. But he ordered scrambled eggs, whisky and soda, and a selection from the trolley.' [4]

Use commas to separate elements in a series, but do not put a comma before the conjunction in a simple series: The flag is red, white and blue. He would nominate Tom, Dick or Harry.

Put a comma before the concluding conjunction in a series, however, if an integral element of the series requires a conjunction: I had orange juice, toast, and ham and eggs for breakfast.

Use a comma also before the concluding conjunction in a complex series of phrases: The main points to consider are whether the athletes are skillful enough to compete, whether they have the stamina to endure the training, and whether they have the proper mental attitude.

A comma is used before and, or, or etc. in a list when its omission might either give rise to ambiguity or cause the last word or phrase to be construed with a preposition in the preceding phrase: "There were many expeditions, including those of Sturt, Mitchell, Burke and Wills, and Darling." "The long days at work, the nights of intense study, and inadequate food eventually caused them serious health problems." "The sea, the perfume of wisteria, or a summer lunch: any of these revived memories of an easier time." "We needed to know how to get there, what time to get there, the number of participants, etc."

Generally, however, a comma is not used before and, or or etc. in a list: "John, Warren and Peter came to dinner." "Fruit, vegetables or cereals may be substituted." "Why not hire your skis, boots, overpants etc.?"

a comma before the final "and" in lists: straightforward ones (he ate ham, eggs and chips) do not need one, but sometimes it can help the reader (he ate cereal, kippers, bacon, eggs, toast and marmalade, and tea)[5]

Trivia

New Zealand poet Elizabeth Smither has written a poem about the serial comma [6], and there is a musical band called Oxford Comma. [7]

References

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