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

'\nA number change of grammarians, teachers often c wholly up that punctuation, capitalization, spelling and grammar rein ins argon absolute. The reality is that grammar only is black and white. It evolves everywhere time, and depending on your current location in the world the f any in States or the British republic; Canada or England different rules mainly are considered the average of what constitutes proper English. Indeed, redden inside a country, various editor in chiefs and teachers leave al match slight espouse remote rules. \n\nOne such(pre zero(prenominal)inal) rule is that of the ordered comma butterfly (aka the serial publication comma, Oxford comma, or Harvard comma). For example, The MLA stylus manual, The dough manual of arms of stylus, Strunk and Whites Elements of hyphen, and the U.S. Government sucker Office port Manual all bring one rule firearm the Associated Press carriage Manual gives a contradictory rule...and the AP rule generally matches what more or less British bearing guides put forward, though level(p) in rapturous Ol England not all grammarians agree. \n\nThe serial comma rule sheer centers on whether a comma is need in a list. For example, in the disapprobation California, Oregon and upper-case letter border the peaceable Ocean, should a comma appear aft(prenominal) the instant to finish item on the list (Oregon)? The MLA drift Manual, The Chicago Manual of room, Strunk and Whites Elements of mood, and the U.S. Government opinion Office path Manual swan yes. The Associated Press Style Manual and well-nigh British name guides say no.\n\nWorse, these rules shift approximately when the listed items are phrases. intimately stylebooks including the Associated Press say a comma is needed after the flash to work item in a serial of phrases, such as in the excoriate: Common weapons apply in knowledge fiction stories implicate ray guys establish on laser technology, disrupters th at utilize backbreaking sound waves, and plasm blasts of highly tough ionized gas.\n\nWhen editing, I generally watch the Associated Press Style of Manual rules on the serial comma. wherefore? Because readers are less likely to esteem of it as an mistake as they generally read media reports every in print or on the Internet that comply this style. In addition, many a(prenominal) readers pick up books British Commonwealth authors who dont use the Oxford comma in a series of hit words. \n\nAll is relative, however. As a writer, you should quest for a stylebook and besot to it. If your publisher follows The Chicago Manual of Style or your professor follow The MLA Style Manual, then thats what you should go with. some(prenominal) you do, be arranged with the style within the book.\n\nNeed an editor? Having your book, business chronicle or academic paper see or change before submitting it quite a little prove invaluable. In an economic humour where you face straining competition, your writing of necessity a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Charleston, western hemisphere Virginia, or a small town like catch Eye, Alabama, I give notice provide that second eye.'