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The Serial Comma

Debates about the serial comma are fierce and ongoing. I myself am a fan of the serial comma, the comma that is used right before a conjunction (i.e. and/or) before the last item in a list. I believe that good writing is clear and concise and the serial comma adds to clarity. A much cited example, the book dedication: “This book is dedicated to my parents, Sam and Nicole.” It seems as if the author acknowledges four people, the parents and Sam and Nicole, but it is also possible that the author is naming the parents (my dad Sam and my mom Nicole).  This is confusing. If the author meant to dedicate the book to four people, the serial comma can avoid ambiguity: “This book is dedicated to my parents, Sam, and Nicole.” Another example: “My favorite dresses are blue and green, silver and black, red and white and blue.”  Do I have three  (i.e. one blue and green, one silver and black, and one that is red white and blue), or four (one blue and green, one silver and black, one read and white, and one blue)? The serial comma clarifies: “My favorite dresses are blue and green, silver and black, read and white, and blue.”

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