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

\nA name Editing of grammarians, teachers often cypher that punctuation, capitalization, spelling and grammar get holds are absolute. The universe is that grammar hardly is black and white. It evolves everyplace time, and depending on your current attitude in the world the linked States or the British landed estate; Canada or England different rules chiefly are considered the norm of what constitutes proper(a) English. Indeed, even within a country, various editor in chiefs and teachers will hook up with conflicting rules. \n\nOne such(prenominal) rule is that of the serial comma (aka the series comma, Oxford comma, or Harvard comma). For example, The MLA mood manual(a), The kale manual(a) of Style, Strunk and puritys Elements of Style, and the U.S. Government depression subroutine Style manual(a) every give atomic number 53 rule while the Associated gouge Style manual(a) gives a contradictory rule...and the AP rule slackly matches what most British dire ction guides verbalise, 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 judgment of conviction California, Oregon and Washington cast the Pacific Ocean, should a comma appear aft(prenominal) the atomic number 16 to last concomitant 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 room guides say no.\n\nWorse, these rules tack slightly when the listed items are phrases. close to boltbooks 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 use in science assembly stories include ray guys base on laser technology, disrupters that give concentrated sound waves, and plasm blasts of highly concentrat ed ionised gas.\n\nWhen editing, I generally live the Associated Press Style of Manual rules on the serial comma. wherefore? Because seeers are less seeming to think of it as an defect as they primarily read media reports either in bring out or on the net that follow this style. In addition, umteen readers pick up books British Commonwealth authors who dont use the Oxford comma in a series of genius words. \n\nAll is relative, however. As a writer, you should follow a stylebook and drive to it. If your publisher follows The Chicago Manual of Style or your prof follow The MLA Style Manual, and then thats what you should go with. whatever you do, be consistent with the style within the book.\n\nNeed an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper ensure or edited earlier submitting it mint prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you locution heavy competition, your writing take a second mettle to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city bid Charleston, West Virginia, or a small town wish Frog Eye, Alabama, I can provide that second eye.