What a joy!
What is an Oxford Comma? Remember when we were kids and the teacher said to put a comma after all list items except the item just before the "and"? That concept has bothered me for ... lo these many years.
Here's an example of what the sixth grade teacher demanded:
Before locking up the office, be sure to turn off the lights, air cleaners and computers.
It groups air cleaners and computers together and gives that group the same importance as the lights by themselves.
Imagine if you did that in your will:
All the money goes to Child 1, Child 2 and Child 3.
Oops. It looks like the money is divided in half, with Child 1 getting half, and Children 2 and 3 splitting the other half.
The Oxford Comma puts an end to this practice and makes life more fair. You put your comma after each thing.
All the money goes to Child 1, Child 2, and Child 3.
Unless, of course, Child 1 was the favorite and you just didn't want to come right out and say it!
(c) 2017 Suzann Kale
