The use of the serial, or Oxford, comma has been a long debated topic. For those unfamiliar with the debate over this “rule,” an example with a serial comma follows: I have traveled to Seattle, San Francisco, and Dallas. Whereas, a serial comma omitted looks as follows: I have traveled to Seattle, San Francisco and Dallas.
The Associated Press (AP) Stylebook and the Chicago Manual of Style have two different views on the topic. The AP Stylebook requires the omission of the serial comma in simple lists, whereas the Chicago Manual of Style requires a comma before a conjunction when joining the last two items in a series.
In the public relations industry, it is important to keep journalists happy, so following the correct style is extremely important if you want your clients’ stories to be covered. However, when it comes to the serial comma, some follow the AP Stylebook, some follow the Chicago Manual of Style and some follow other guidelines (as you can see, our firm tends to follow the AP Stylebook).
If you want a good laugh on the “heated” debate of the Oxford comma, check out Scott Leadingham’s article on Quill. Leadingham makes some interesting points surrounding these “standardized rules.” For example, if standardized rules exist, then what are writers to do when the rules contradict across the industry (think AP Stylebooks’s rule of omitting the serial comma vs. Chicago Manual of Style’s rule of using the serial comma)?
The article also includes an excerpt from “The Book on Writing” by Paula LaRocque, also in favor of restoring the serial comma. LaRocque highlights the confusion surrounding the Oxford comma, providing the AP Stylebook as an example. The stylebook approves of omitting the serial comma in simple lists. However, the AP Stylebook demands the serial comma in a complex series, when the last two items in the list run together, or when the item in the list contains a comma. (LaRocque’s examples: The flag is red, white and blue, vs., The main points to consider are whether the athletes are skillful enough to compete, whether they have the stamina to endure the training, and whether they have the proper attitude.)
Clearly, there is some confusion surrounding the Oxford comma, and to add even more confusion, different stylebooks have different rules. Various experts, including the Columbia Guide to Standard American English, are in favor of the serial comma, yet others swear by the AP Stylebook. What are your thoughts? Retain or omit the serial comma?