This is more out of curiosity, but do you use the oxford comma or not? I know in journalism they typically don't although I think that's because of word/character count. However, I know other people (myself included) that believe the oxford comma provides clarity for the reader. Thoughts?
Oxford comma: We invited the stripers, JFK, and Stalin. Without Oxford comma: We invited the strippers, JFK and Stalin. Wait, who were the strippers?
Like I said, I know why it's used and I always use one. This was more of a punctuation poll because people seem to be divided over the oxford comma. Also, the Stalin JFK meme is almost as great as the: "Let's eat, grandma!" vs. "Let's eat grandma!" grammar saves lives.
The novel (and movie) Dr. No was inspired by a real incident of a period instead of a comma in a computer program. It caused a rocket test flight to veer off course, leading to suspicions of "toppling" by enemy agents, until the error was found. In the computer language FORTRAN: FOR I = 1, 5 is very different from: FOR I = 1. 5 Both are valid FORTRAN statements. The first was the intended statement. Spaces are not significant in FORTRAN, so the second one is really: FORI=1.5 (setting a variable to a value)
it won't matter much [if at all] to agents/editors/publishers whichever method you use [oxford, or not], as long as you're consistent... if the publisher's house style calls for the opposite, they'll be changed in the editing...
The oxford comma is when you add a comma right before the "and" in a series. For example: Oxford: Me, myself, and I. No oxford: Me, myself and I.
incidentally, that is a question easily answered by a google search. Much faster than posting and waiting for what you hope is a good response. You'll not only find definitions, but also recommendations when to use it and when to omit it. Train yourself to google reflexively. It's faster and better more often than you'd expect. Besides, a writer needs good research skills.
I learned to use the Oxford comma in third grade and haven't strayed since. I see no reason to drop it.
It's easier to read with one I have found that a comma produces much stronger break than an 'and', and some readers (like me) expect there to be a comma if there have been 2 or 3 of them separating the list items. It's easier to distinguish with a comma. By the way, why is it called an "Oxford" comma? I've read 2 or 3 books on the subject of punctuation and never have I come across this term. I think they blame it on the American/British differences. By the way, most usage guides are against it (except when there will be confusion without it) and so I go by the rules
I tend to use it, especially if there is a possibility of mistaking the last two items for a single compound item.
