Meaning & use
Oxford comma
The comma placed before the final 'and' or 'or' in a list of three or more items.
See it in a sentence
With the Oxford comma, the sentence reads: 'apples, bananas, and pears.'
The style guide required writers to always use the Oxford comma for clarity.
A note on using this word
Using the Oxford comma is a style choice; some guides require it, while others, like many newspapers, leave it out.
Words with a similar meaning
serial comma
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Oxford comma”, then compare your use with the examples above.
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