The Oxford Comma and the unabating debate

What is the Oxford Comma?

For the uninitiated, the Oxford comma also called the serial comma is the term for the last comma in a list of items before a coordinating conjunction, usually “and” and sometimes “or.” 

It is named the Oxford comma due to its traditional use by the editors, printers, and editors at Oxford University Press. The Oxford comma is occasionally also known as a Harvard comma on account of its use at Harvard University Press.

Examples: I have visited France, Italy, and Spain.

Without the Oxford comma this would read as

I have visited France, Italy and Spain.

A small punctuation mark, the Oxford Comma, has been in the center of controversy and has been one of the most debated English grammar topics. The debate around Oxford comma and its use has inspired many webpages, articles, memes, and has even been the basis of a ruling by a court in Maine. Facebook boasts a number of Oxford comma groups and it is a popular and hot topic on Twitter. It has also inspired clothing such as t-shirts with captions supporting and opposing the use of the Oxford comma.  Vampire Weekend’s debut album includes the song Oxford Comma, making it the only rule of punctuation to have a song written for it.

Tracing the origin of the Oxford Comma

The Oxford comma has been attributed to Horace Hart, printer and controller of the Oxford University Press from 1893 to 1915, who wrote Hart's Rules for Compositors and Readers at the University Press, Oxford  as a style guide for the employees working at the press. However, it was named only when Peter Sutcliff referred to the Oxford comma in his book The Oxford University Press: An Informal History.

Language is a means of communication and every effort is made to ensure that the communication is clear in its meaning. While speaking intonation, voice modulation and pronunciation help to ensure clarity of meaning. Correspondingly written language has punctuation marks, each one serving specific purpose.

The purpose of Oxford comma is to remove ambiguity. The court case mentioned in the beginning of this post hinged entirely on the lack of an Oxford comma. Maine’s overtime laws have exemptions for the duties of “canning, processing, preserving, freezing, drying, marketing, storing, packing for shipment or distribution”— but is “distribution” a noun of its own, or the subject of the packing? As a result of this ambiguity, five delivery drivers were awarded a five million dollar settlement, and Maine replaced their commas with semicolons (including one after “shipment”).

As the debate about the use of Oxford Comma continues unabated there are strong arguments for and against the use of the Oxford Comma.

Those who support the use of Oxford Comma argue that its use clears potential ambiguity and it is not just a stylish addition.

Grammarly explains the role of Oxford Comma in removing ambiguity with these two sentences. “I love my parents, Lady Gaga and Humpty Dumpty” is different from “I love my parents, Lady Gaga, and Humpty Dumpty”. Without a comma, it looks like the parents are, Lady Gaga and Humpty Dumpty.

Oxford Royal Academy has another argument in favour of the use of the Oxford Comma. When you’re reciting a list of things out loud, the chances are that you probably would put a short pause before the final item, and the Oxford comma reflects that.

My take on the serial comma, a/k/a the Oxford comma or Harvard comma. Debates about it are common but tiresome. pic.twitter.com/nV4rm1B3mU

— Bryan A. Garner (@BryanAGarner) December 14, 2016

Arguments against using Oxford Comma say that it makes the writer appear fussy. Moreover, the sentence can be read out without the pause before the final term. Valid argument, isn’t it?

The debaters against the Oxford Comma say that in certain situations instead of preventing ambiguity, it creates one. Apposition, which is used to add identifying information about the previous clause, can be the culprit.

Example: I was dancing with Arjun, a teacher, and my mother.

This sentence can mean “I was dancing with two people – a teacher called Arjun and my mother. If the writer meant to say “I was dancing with three people ie. Arjun, a teacher and my mother”  then the Oxford comma should be removed or the sentence may be rephrased. The Oxford comma creates confusion as ‘a teacher’ is taken as an apposition which adds information about Arjun.

Another argument against the use of Oxford comma is that the conjunction serves the purpose and the Oxford Comma is only a tautology. Further, the ambiguity in a sentence may be removed by rephrasing. So why use an Oxford Comma? 

 What is the verdict?

Whatever the argument is, writers need to be open minded about the use of this interesting punctuation mark. Statements and situations decide whether or not to use this miniscule punctuation mark. Use or abandon the Oxford Comma as the situation demands. Oxford Comma can neither be banned nor used all the time. Consistency and following the style guide of your organization is advised. Consistency in the use of Oxford Comma atleast across a particular document is desired.

As there are no set rules in English grammar with respect to the Oxford Comma, the debate will continue to rage on.