OK, so what is the Oxford comma and why is it such a big deal?
The Oxford comma (or serial comma) is the final comma placed after a string of objects before a coordinating conjunction.
What???
It’s the comma used in a list before words such as “or,” “and” or “but.” It is the comma after “pepperoni” in the example below.
Tina bought pineapple, sausage, pepperoni, and marinara for making pizza.
Even in cases where only two items precede the “or,” “and,” or “but,” the Oxford comma is still needed.
Tina bought sausage, pepperoni, and marinara for making pizza.
Some think the usage of the Oxford comma is pretentious, but it really can help clarify things. For example, if the list is long or items have more than one word, it helps the reader keep track of what is going on.
Varsity track, chess club, scholars bowl, and student government kept Vincent busy after school every day.
When there are coordinating conjunctions (“or,” “and,” or “but”) within the list, the Oxford comma becomes even more important.
Track and field, scholars bowl, student government, and chess club were just a few of the after-school activities Vincent enjoyed.
Chess club, scholars bowl, student government, and track and field were just a few of the after-school activities Vincent enjoyed.
In this last case, the comma helps make it clear that “track and field” is one activity, not two.
So many people are anti-Oxford comma. I am so glad you are not one of them! It’s a debatable point of grammar, to be sure, but sentences without them just look wrong to me. Keep up the good work, my Editor friend!