A serial comma (or Oxford comma) is an optional comma used before the last item in a list. For example, “bread, butter, and tax evasion” uses a serial comma, whereas “bread, butter and tax evasion” does not.

Do you use it? Why or not? I myself always use it, and I find it really weird when it’s not there. I don’t perceive any less of a pause between the last two items in a list than between any others, so it feels natural to put a comma there as well. Tbh, I’m so used to it that I usually have to do a double-take when it’s not there (since it looks like a grammar error to me at first).

  • anon6789@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    That helps me understand what the other person was saying in response to my comment now, thanks!

    Seeeeee…we all get confused without it!