The Oxford Comma is back and it’s pissed

The Mirror has been criticized in the past for using the Oxford Comma, as has been advocated in the Chicago Manual of Style. The AP Stylebook has been somewhat anti-Oxford comma, and we pretty much ignored most of APs advice.

It now appears that AP style advocates for what’s also called the serial comma in some uses.

This is an excerpt from the AP comma entry:

IN A SERIES: Use commas to separate elements in a series, but do not put a comma before the conjunction in most simple series: His grandchildren are Vera, Chuck and Dave. He would nominate Marquez, Bedi, Lyman or Wong. She goes to school, plays league soccer and takes private dance lessons.

Include a final comma in a simple series if omitting it could make the meaning unclear. The governor convened his most trusted advisers, economist Olivia Schneider and polling expert Carlton Torres. (If Schneider and Torres are his most trusted advisers, don’t use the final comma.) The governor convened his most trusted advisers, economist Olivia Schneider, and polling expert Carlton Torres. (If the governor is convening unidentified advisers plus Schneider and Torres, the final comma is needed.)
Note, though, that rephrasing often is better:
The governor convened economist Olivia Schneider and polling expert Carlton Torres, his two most trusted advisers. Or The governor convened his most trusted advisers: economist Olivia Schneider and polling expert Carlton Torres. (If Schneider and Torres are the governor’s most trusted advisers.)
The governor convened his most trusted advisers, along with economist Olivia Schneider and polling expert Carlton Torres. (If the governor is convening unidentified advisers plus Schneider and Torres.)

Put a comma before the concluding conjunction in a series if an integral element of the series requires a conjunction: I had orange juice, toast, and ham and eggs for breakfast.

Use a comma also before the concluding conjunction in a complex series of phrases: The main points to consider are whether the athletes are skillful enough to compete, whether they have the stamina to endure the training, and whether they have the proper mental attitude.

See dash and semicolon for cases when elements of a series contain internal commas.

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Wayne Creed

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