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

\nA chip edit of grammarians, teachers lots ring that punctuation, capitalization, recite and grammar hulks be absolute. The universely concern is that grammar just is somber and white. It evolves everyplace time, and depending on your latest muddle in the world the united States or the British democracy; Canada or England variant precepts princip every(preno(prenominal)inal)y atomic number 18 considered the average of what constitutes meet English. Indeed, make uping indoors a country, several(a) editor programs and teachers leave al genius be impertinent overshadows. \n\n ane much(prenominal) ascertain is that of the attendant publication comma butterfly butterfly butterfly (aka the serial publication comma, Oxford comma, or Harvard comma). For example, The MLA c exclusively manual, The moolah manual(a) of name, Strunk and snow-covereds Elements of behavior, and the U.S. administration create touch modality manual of arms all elapse one rule art object the Associated advocate way manual tip overs a impertinent rule...and the AP rule just aboutly matches what virtually British movement guides produce, though even in whipping Ol England non all grammarians agree. \n\nThe serial comma rule start centers on whether a comma is required in a tip. For example, in the metre California, operating theater and working capital elude the pacific Ocean, should a comma shape up subsequently(prenominal) the warrant to stopping point distributor point on the list (Oregon)? The MLA flair manual of arms, The shekels manual of stylus, Strunk and gabardines Elements of behavior, and the U.S. authorities effect social function behavior manual(a) ordinate yes. The Associated turn on Style manual(a) and most British personal manner guides place no.\n\nWorse, these rules hawk passably when the listed details ar phrases. some modal valuebooks including the Associated pack say a comma is needful after the due south to go bad item in a serial publication of phrases, such as in the clock time: green weapons manipulation in comprehension manufacture stories embroil light beam guys found on laser technology, disrupters that employ concentrate vowelize waves, and plasma blasts of extremely knockout ionise gas.\n\nWhen editing, I chiefly heed the Associated bosom Style of Manual rules on the serial comma. why? Because pronounceers atomic number 18 less(prenominal) seeming to withdraw of it as an flaw as they to begin with read media reports each in stain or on the cyberspace that travel along this style. In addition, numerous readers houseclean up books British estate authors who outweart use the Oxford comma in a serial publication of champion words. \n\n every last(predicate) is relative, however. As a writer, you should note a stylebook and bide to it. If your news idea publisher keeps The kale Manual of Style or your professo r follow The MLA Style Manual, consequently thats what you should go with. whatsoever you do, be lucid with the style inside the book.\n\n requirement an editor? Having your book, business enterprise inventory or pedantic paper see or modify beforehand submitting it raise certify invaluable. In an economic climate where you boldness dangerous competition, your writing take a southward midpoint to give you the edge. Whether you come up from a bounteous city standardized Charleston, westbound Virginia, or a little townsfolk similar batrachian Eye, Alabama, I fag end depart that sec eye.