The Oxford comma — used before
“and” in a series — has divided editors, journalists, and English teachers for
more than a century. So, do you really need it?
The Oxford comma sits at the
center of one of the great debates of the English language. This punctuation
mark — the comma often used before “and” in a series — inspires surprisingly
strong opinions, dividing journalists, teachers, editors, and authors. In
recent years, the debate over its usage has become something of a marker of
grammar cred. While some consider it essential for clarity, others label it as
clutter. So, do you really need the Oxford comma? Here’s what grammar rules,
style guides, and history have to say.
What Is the Oxford Comma?
Also called the serial comma, the
Oxford comma is placed immediately before the conjunction (usually “and” or
“or”) in a series of three or more terms. For example, “My favorite book genres
are mystery, historical fiction, and dystopian.” The final comma in the series,
just before “and,” is the Oxford comma.
This comma has been used (and
omitted) throughout English history, though it was not called the Oxford comma
until the early 20th century. In 1905, Horace Hart, a printer for Oxford
University Press, laid out a new requirement for his employees: They must
include a final serial comma before the last item in a series. Because OUP was
highly influential, the comma earned a nickname tied to the university.
However, not all printing presses and grammar authorities followed suit — and
thus the controversy began.
Today, usage of the Oxford comma
remains mixed. Several major American style guides require it, including
Chicago, MLA, and APA. The Associated Press (AP) Stylebook — the standardized
style for journalism in the U.S. — generally does not. (Word Smarts primarily
follows AP style, with a few notable exceptions, including using the Oxford
comma.) Interestingly, the University of Oxford Style Guide — distinct from
Oxford University Press — does not require it unless it is needed to prevent
ambiguity.
Where does that leave questioning
writers? Both options are grammatically correct in modern English, so if you
aren’t following a specific style guide, it’s up to your personal preference
whether or not to include the Oxford comma. Let’s take a closer look at when
you might need it and why you would omit it.
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Why Some Writers Strongly Prefer
It
As mentioned earlier, the Oxford
comma was in use long before Horace Hart’s decree. For example, it appears many
times in Mary Shelley’s famous 1818 Gothic novel Frankenstein: “The starry sky,
the sea, and every sight afforded by these wonderful regions seem still to have
the power of elevating his soul from earth.”
Sometimes the serial comma
doesn’t impact the meaning of a sentence, but it can often enhance readability
and prevent ambiguity. For example: “During her commencement speech, she
thanked her parents, Cher and Conan O’Brien.” Without the Oxford comma, it reads
as though the speaker’s parents are Cher and Conan O’Brien. With the comma,
it’s clear she’s thanking her parents, as well as Cher and Conan O’Brien.
This is why many style guides,
academic institutions, and book publishers require the comma, as it creates
predictable sentence structure. Forgoing the Oxford comma can occasionally
create costly or confusing ambiguity in legal or professional writing, which is
why some see it as a practical tool rather than unnecessary punctuation.
Why Others Leave It Out
But for all those who champion
the Oxford comma, it has its opposition. Some shrug it off as a redundant mark,
citing a preference for cleaner, lighter punctuation. Even Thomas Jefferson
decided to forgo the extra comma when he and his committee drafted the
Declaration of Independence (1776): “… that among these are Life, Liberty and
the pursuit of Happiness.”
In journalism, including AP
style, the traditional rule is to omit it unless needed for clarity, as seen in
the ambiguous commencement speech example above. Many simple sentences are
perfectly understood without it because the conjunction does the heavy lifting:
“She went to the grocery store, library and park.”
The omission of the Oxford comma
points to a long-standing tradition in the journalism industry, dating back to
a time when we received our news in print — not on screens. Printing presses
could save space (and paper) by not using the Oxford comma, so it became the
norm. But even outside of journalism, omitting the Oxford comma remains a
widely accepted approach.
Do You Need It?
There is no universal rule across
all English writing regarding the Oxford comma. Your priority should be to
follow the relevant style guide, whether it’s MLA for academics or your
company’s grammar rules. If you aren’t following a style guide, the choice is a
matter of preference. Whichever you choose, stay consistent throughout your
writing, because this tiny mark can leave a big impression.