Kris Spisak
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Kris Spisak
The Oxford Comma

Writing Tip 9: The Comma Wars

Do you put a comma before “and” in a list? Should you? Can you finally correct your persistent coworker/friend/spouse once and for all?

Writing realizationsSadly, no. They’re both correct.

Here’s the difference: The Oxford comma (as in “Dancer, Prancer, and Vixen”) is used by the Oxford University Press and is recommended in the Chicago Manual of Style. Academia and most traditionally published books follow this rule, always inserting a comma before “and” in a list of 3 or more for the sake of clarity. The Associated Press, however, recommends ditching this comma for the sake of space (as in “Dancer, Prancer and Vixen”) only using it when necessary for clarity’s sake (as in “grilled cheese, peanut butter and jelly, and turkey sandwiches”). Following this guideline, newspapers, advertisers, and some websites often skip the Oxford comma.

Deciding when to use it and when not to seems silly to me, so I use the Oxford comma in most situations (see the previous sentence). But really, as long as a writer is consistent in his or her choice, either form is correct.

Questions? Let me know!

Writing Tip 5: Brains, It’s What’s For (Zombie) Dinner… or Is It? Writing Tip 10: “Nauseous” vs. “Nauseated”
Writing Tip 395: “Daylight Savings Time” or “Daylight Saving Time”?
Writing Tips

Writing Tip 395: “Daylight Savings Time” or “Daylight Saving Time”?

Writing Tip 394: “Succession” vs. “Secession” (& “Secede” vs. “Succeed”)
Spelling, Writing Tips

Writing Tip 394: “Succession” vs. “Secession” (& “Secede” vs. “Succeed”)

Writing Tip 393: “Maze” vs. “Labyrinth”
Word Choice, Writing Tips

Writing Tip 393: “Maze” vs. “Labyrinth”

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Recent Podcasts

  • S3: E6 – Why “Soccer” instead of “Football,” Americans? Seriously, why?
  • S3: E5 – Where Do We Get the Word “Hipster”?
  • S3: E4 – The Origin of “Silhouette” & How Do You Spell “Piecemeal” (“Peacemeal”? “Piecemail”?) Anyway?
  • S3: E3 – The origin of “compete” and “boycott” & is “lineup” / “line up” one or two words anyway?
  • S3: E2 – “Bragging rights” (or “rites”)? “Rites (or “rights”) of passage”? And what’s the story about “braggadocio”?

Recent Posts

  • Writing Tip 395: “Daylight Savings Time” or “Daylight Saving Time”?
  • Writing Tip 394: “Succession” vs. “Secession” (& “Secede” vs. “Succeed”)
  • Writing Tip 393: “Maze” vs. “Labyrinth”
  • Writing Tip 392: “Sick” vs. “Sic” (or “Sick ‘Em” vs. “Sic ‘Em”)
  • Writing Tip 391: “Manila” vs. “Vanilla” Folders
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