Editing Example No. 4

The Serial Comma!

Or is it the Oxford Comma?

How do you feel about this little beauty/beast?

Why does such a small inky-winky punctuation mark cause such confusion?

As a translator, proofreader and burgeoning copywriter, I never used to pay any attention to it. Ever!

Until several years ago when I was trained NOT to use it. ⛔

I was instructed as a risk report editor to avoid it.

Even penalized when forgetting to remove it, as per the instructions of the US-based corporation I was freelancing for.

Now I see it EVERYWHERE, especially in AI responses. Lists here, lists there…

It’s running riot.

Here’s a good example of when to correctly use the serial comma:

👉 I go shopping to buy bread, fruit and vegetables, and fish.

There is a good reason for our serial friend. Because of “fruit and vegetables” and to separate them from “fish”.

But not here, surely:

👉 I go shopping to buy bread, fruit, vegetables, and fish.

Why?

What’s wrong with:

👉 I go shopping to buy bread, fruit, vegetables and fish?

Is it to make sure that "vegetables and fish" are not connected?

No pesky comma before the final “and” looks perfect to me.

And this hellish statement:

👉 I’m going to buy bread, and fruit?

Argh, stop it! Already.

There are rules! Such as to break up really long lists of items.

I sometimes ask customers how they feel about the comma before going ahead with work. Some of them think I’m nuts 🤪.

What do you feel comfortable with?

Comma or no comma?

Does our little friend bother you as much as it bothers me?

Here’s the Wikipedia blurb for more information:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_comma

Cheers, folks!