6 Thoughts on "Oxford" Commas - and People Who Love Them Too Much

A huge population of grammar nerds had a scare recently when a rumor circulated that Oxford University dropped the so-called Oxford comma from its style guide (read more here).

If you haven't met the serial comma (aka Oxford, series and even Harvard comma), here's TheFreeDictionary.com definition , slightly truncated: "... the comma used immediately before a coordinating conjunction (usually and or or , sometimes nor) preceding the final item in a list of three or more items."

The hysteria from the "keep the Oxford comma!" army is unbecoming and unnecessary. I use it when I need it - for organization and clarity. I do not use it reflexively for any sort of foolish consistency. And I will not use it to lord my writing streed cred over the lowly semi-literate serfdom. If some editor inserts one in my copy, I will not launch into a rage. It's not that big of a deal.

Let me say that again: It's not a big deal.

Here are six thoughts about serial commas and the people who love them way too much.

1. When a serial comma will add some clarity to your sentence, by all means use it. When it won't, don't bother. Make every keystroke earn its space.

2. Don't act like the serial comma is all that's fending off the text message-speak barbarians at the gate. There are plenty of other writing foibles far more corrosive to the language.

3. I saw one writer post on Facebook that "You can have my Oxford comma when you pry it from my cold, dead hands." Another tweeted "Are you people insane? The Oxford comma is what separates us from the animals." Oh, please. Acting hysterical and defensive about the serial comma makes you sound like a pedantic dilettante. Cold writers are better writers. They are flexible, adaptable, pragmatic.

4. Oh, yeah - if you call it an Oxford comma, you're just trying to sound elitist. I'll bet you wouldn't care about it if someone had named it after Newark or Waco.

5. You can have perfect grammar and still be a crappy writer. To twist a phrase from Mr. Spock of Star Trek fame: Good grammar is the beginning of good writing - not the end. There are plenty of outstanding professional writers who will not kowtow to your pet grammar rule, and they make a fine living without it.

6. If you write for a living, you will have to follow of plenty of rules you don't like. Get over yourself. Rein in your ego. Rely on brilliant ideas. Radical rhythm. Careful word choice. They are the ingredients of great writing, not blindly following rules and style guides. If you're less angst-ridden, you'll have a lot more fun writing. And is that not the core reason you took it up?