Do You Use the Serial/Oxford Comma?

[Warhammer]

A serial comma (or the Oxford or Harvard comma) is the comma before the coordinating conjunction (usually and, or, or nor) in a series of three or more terms. For some, you will enter this thread and gain new knowledge. For others, you will wonder why the hell I made a thread about this. Anyways, here is an example.

Without serial comma:

Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and the Hulk

With serial comma:

Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, and the Hulk

 

[Harls]

Absolutely. It is the clearest way to communicate things, otherwise it looks like you are pairing the last two things ("Thor and Hulk" in your example, rather than "Thor" and "Hulk").

 

[KevanG]

I probably should but I don't. It always looks untidy to me.

 

[StrainedEyes]

Yes, otherwise it combines the last two things and that can get weird sometimes.

 

[Spider-Who?]

It depends on the purpose and subjects being listed, for me anyway.

Using your example, I would go without the Oxford comma since each subject is obviously separate from the other:

"I enjoy Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and the Hulk."

But if I don't want there to be any confusion between the relationship/combination of subjects, then I use the Oxford comma:

"I like the romance of Tony and Pepper, Thor, and Capt."
"I like the romance of Tony and Pepper, Thor and Capt."

Without the Oxford comma here, you'd think I was saying I like Tony and Pepper's romance, as well as the romance between Thor and Captain America. Grammatically, its a terrible example, but you get what I mean.

 

[jonathancrane]

My usage of it depends on the discipline: each department has a different policy on it.

 

[Dr.]

Btw, is there a specific thread on SHH devoted to language pedantry (spelling, grammar, syntax, usage, etc.)? Some folks are genuinely interested in the topic and appreciate the chance to learn new stuff and improve their writing style. Others, however, take offense at even a friendly correction (“fyi, it’s bear with me not bare with me” ). But in a dedicated thread, everyone who visits would be (presumably) a “Grammar Nazi” - so no offense taken.

 

[Teelie]

Sometimes I do, depending on the subject(s).

This is the only thread I can remember on language usage though. And even entering into a grammar nazi thread people will take offense to corrections. Or interpetations of whether or not to use a given method (like the commas herein).

 

[PacificBoy]

It depends on both editorial style (broadly American English vs British English) and clarity (whether there's confusion without the last comma).

 

[terry78]

Usually most Word applications add it automatically don't they?

 

[Marvolo]

Yeah. It takes less than a second. I'm lazy but not so lazy I can't twitch my hand a micrometer to make a comma.

 

[NHawk19]

I'm lucky if I remember any commas

 

[Teelie]

Or periods.

 

[Mace Dolex]

That's interesting to know, I think I use the serial comma with certain paragraphs but I'm not a grammar guru.