The Oxford Comma: What It Is and When to Use It
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The Oxford comma, also called the serial comma, is the comma before the final "and" or "or" in a list: "red, white, and blue". Whether you need it depends on the style guide you follow.
Example of the difference
"I thanked my parents, Taylor and Sam." Without the comma, it could suggest your parents are Taylor and Sam.
"I thanked my parents, Taylor, and Sam." Now it is clearly a list of three.
Who uses it
The Chicago Manual of Style, APA and MLA recommend the serial comma.
AP style, common in journalism, generally omits it unless needed for clarity.
Be consistent
Choose one approach and use it throughout a document.
If your school, publisher or company specifies a style guide, follow that.
Does it affect counts?
Commas don't change word counts but do add one character each.
For tight character limits, such as social posts, dropping optional commas can save a few characters.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Oxford comma correct?
Yes. It is optional in some styles and required in others.
Does AP style use the Oxford comma?
Generally no, except to avoid confusion.
Why is it called the Oxford comma?
It was traditionally used by Oxford University Press.