The Oxford comma, also known as the serial comma, is the final comma in a series of words (ie. diet coke, peanut butter, and chocolate). Without it, the meaning of a sentence can change completely. With it, the character count of a written piece can increase nominally.
It is considered optional by many writers and even entirely left out of multiple languages. Traditionally, the exclusion of the punctuation mark has been more common in print publications in an effort to fit every word into narrow editorial columns. That said, there is no consistency and you will see its use and omission all over the board.
THE OXFORD COMMA IN ACTION (AND NOT)
Mary went on a road trip with her dog, a psychic and a chalkboard salesman.
Mary went on a road trip with her dog, a psychic, and a chalkboard salesman.
In the first scenario, Mary’s dog is coming off a little eccentric. In the second scenario, Mary is taking a road trip with her dog, and two other people with really unique jobs. The Oxford comma is not about looking good or being pompous. It is about adding clarity to your writing.
To further the argument in favor of the comma, here is my favorite meme on the topic. As you can see (once again) without this particular piece of punctuation the same sentence can mean two completely different things.
NOT A FAN?
Some people feel the Oxford comma is not necessary because it’s possible to understand the majority of sentences without its use. If the items are related it should be logical, right? There’s also the argument that it disrupts the flow of the sentence and the final conjunction adds enough clarity.
If you feel strongly that the Oxford comma is not for you, there’s always the option of rephrasing your sentence. For example:
Mary went on a road trip with her dog, along with a psychic and a chalkboard salesman.
THE VERDICT
At the end of the day, the Oxford comma is a personal preference. No matter which side of the fence you are on it is important to remain consistent — at least in the same written piece. When you jump back and forth it can look a little sloppy.
My Opinion is, and always will be, that the Oxford comma is a crucial part of the written word. It’s just good grammar. Let me know how you feel in the comments!
