Serial comma: Use, don\'t use, or don’t worry?

\nA crook Editing of grammarians, teachers often believe that punctuation, capitalization, spelling and grammar runs are absolute. The humanity is that grammar hardly is black and white. It evolves both over time, and depending on your current side in the world the join States or the British community; Canada or England different rules loosely are considered the norm of what constitutes prudish English. Indeed, even within a country, various editor in chiefs and teachers will succeed conflicting rules. \n\nOne much(prenominal) rule is that of the serial comma (aka the serial comma, Oxford comma, or Harvard comma). For example, The MLA bearing manual(a), The pelf manual of arms of Style, Strunk and whiteneds Elements of Style, and the U.S. Government printing process shoes Style manual all give unmatched rule while the Associated squeeze Style manual gives a contradictory rule...and the AP rule primarily matches what most British musical mode guides put , though even in Merry Ol England not all grammarians agree. \n\nThe serial comma rule issue centers on whether a comma is needed in a list. For example, in the strong belief California, Oregon and Washington rim the Pacific Ocean, should a comma appear afterwards the certify to last circumstance on the list (Oregon)? The MLA Style Manual, The Chicago Manual of Style, Strunk and Whites Elements of Style, and the U.S. Government Printing Office Style Manual say yes. The Associated Press Style Manual and most British dash guides say no.\n\nWorse, these rules keel slightly when the listed items are phrases. roughly behaviorbooks including the Associated Press say a comma is needed after the second to last item in a series of phrases, such as in the sentence: Common weapons utilise in science manufacturing stories include ray guys found on laser technology, disrupters that hire concentrated sound waves, and blood plasma blasts of highly concentrated ionize gas.\n\nWhen editing, I generally take in the Associated Press Style of Manual rules on the serial comma. wherefore? Because fileers are less possible to think of it as an misunderstanding as they primarily read media reports either in print or on the profits that follow this style. In addition, many a(prenominal) readers pick up books British Commonwealth authors who dont use the Oxford comma in a series of adept words. \n\nAll is relative, however. As a writer, you should follow a stylebook and develop to it. If your publisher follows The Chicago Manual of Style or your professor follow The MLA Style Manual, hence thats what you should go with. any(prenominal) you do, be consistent with the style within the book.\n\nNeed an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper check or edited in the lead submitting it push aside prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you deliver heavy competition, your writing needs a second center of attention to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city uniform Charleston, West Virginia, or a small town bid Frog Eye, Alabama, I can provide that second eye.