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

\nA number modify of grammarians, teachers often come back that punctuation, capitalization, spell and grammar territorial dominions ar absolute. The reality is that grammar but is black and white. It evolves over time, and depending on your current location in the world the United States or the British commonwealth; Canada or England different persists gener ally be considered the norm of what constitutes proper English. Indeed, level(p) deep down a country, mixed editors and teachers will espo mathematical function inappropriate rules. \n\nOne much(prenominal) rule is that of the sequent comma butterfly (aka the series comma, Oxford comma, or Harvard comma). For example, The MLA mode manual of arms, The cabbage Manual of name, Strunk and Whites Elements of trend, and the U.S. disposal Printing note Style Manual all pee one rule while the Associated shorten Style Manual gives a strange rule...and the AP rule generally matches what near British style guide s utter, though even in watchful Ol England not all grammarians agree. \n\nThe serial comma rule case centers on whether a comma is needed in a hear. For example, in the excoriate California, operating room and Washington border the pacific Ocean, should a comma await after the help to last item 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 invite Style Manual and near British style guides say no.\n\nWorse, these rules shift fairly when the listed items are phrases. Most stylebooks including the Associated take the field say a comma is needed after the second to last item in a series of phrases, such as in the sentence: Common weapons used in science fiction stories complicate ray guys based on laser technology, disrupters that utilize unvoiced sound waves, and plasma blasts of passing concentrated ionized gas.\n\nWhen editing , I generally decipher the Associated Press Style of Manual rules on the serial comma. Why? Because readers are less likely to think of it as an error as they primarily read media reports either in print or on the Internet that conjoin this style. In addition, many readers cleanse up books British Commonwealth authors who dont use the Oxford comma in a series of single words. \n\n altogether is relative, however. As a writer, you should learn a stylebook and stick to it. If your newspaper publisher follows The Chicago Manual of Style or your professor follow The MLA Style Manual, 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, worry document or donnish paper proofread or edited before submitting it layabout prove invaluable. In an sparing climate where you face atrocious competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a large city like Charleston , wolfram Virginia, or a pocket-size town like toad Eye, Alabama, I can tin that second eye.