Controversial Divisions of The Oxford Comma
Splitting Words or Splitting Hairs?
Grammarians are divided by the necessity of the Oxford comma. If its intent was to make a sentence clear and unambiguous, how has it landed in such ambiguous territory?
Serial Comma :: a comma used to separate the second-to-last item in a list from a final item introduced by the conjunction and or or — called also series comma, Oxford comma, or Harvard comma
The linguistic anomaly has had proponents for both its use and omission. Those who champion the comma, prefer its clarity. While those who oppose it, believe it’s superfluous and overly pedantic.
“There are people who embrace the Oxford comma, and people who don’t, and I’ll just say this: never get between these people when drink has been taken.” — Lynn Truss
This disagreement is most often distinguished stylistically. Chicago Style and MLA endorse it, while the AP Stylebook is more critical of its use.
Ironically, the Oxford comma is common practice in America but not utilized in the United Kingdom.
You’re also less likely to see it in a newspaper due to their strict adherence to character limits. But Grammarly is in support of the comma, stating that it is more straightforward.
The comma has even had a legal battle that cost a company $10 million when the comma was excluded in a contract.
The Takeaway
Oxford commas are like marmite. You either love them, or hate them, or don’t know what they are.
But there is no steadfast rule on ALWAYS using it or NEVER using it. It’s yet another example of the inconsistencies of the English language. The use of the Oxford comma depends on context, consistency, and personal preference.
