Serial killing = very bad.

So let's say hello to a friend of mine, the serial comma. I prefer to call them Oxford commas, though, because it just sounds so much more uppity. Say it with me now: "Oxford commas equal very yes!"

Anyway, an Oxford comma is the little guy you put right before the "and" in a list of things separated by commas. Opinions over the appropriateness of using Oxford commas is hotly debated (e.g., should it be "red, white and blue" or "red, white, and blue"?).* Sometimes it causes blood feuds. You know how grammar people are about their commas.

But here's the thing: usually, it doesn't matter. In most cases, it's just a matter of personal preference. Both including and omitting the Oxford comma would be acceptable responses. But then you get cases like this:

"I'd like to thank my parents, the Pope and Mother Teresa."

In this case, you really need to include the Oxford or else people will become confused about your lineage. So slap that Oxford comma down there and clarify your meaning, sir! Unless, of course, your family tree really IS that interesting. In which case any included Oxford comma would be criminally misplaced.

Okay, not really criminally at all. I was just trying to be clever. (Serial killing, criminal, get it? Oh, never mind.)



*We can talk about punctuation placement in regard to quotation marks another time.