Serial Comma Breaks Up Scandalous Affair
Three commas and a conjunction walk into a bar. They eye three attractive single words sitting at the same table. "Let's join them," says the first comma. "But there are four of us and three of them," observes the second comma. "We won't be needing you," the conjunction says without pause, drawing a pistol on the third comma. The words gasp. "I don't trust him," the second word whispers to the third word. "He looks like a serial comma killer."
Despite all it does to eradicate ambiguity and champion clarity, the serial comma has been under the gun for quite some time. Also known as the Harvard comma, it is the last comma placed before a conjunction in a list of items such as "lions, tigers, and bears." And it performs vital, heroic functions every day. For example, it can break up a scandalous affair. Consider its absence in the dedication, "I would like to thank my parents, Mr. T and Sister Mary Catherine."
Or consider its absence in, "My favorite types of sandwiches are BLT, ham, peanut butter and jam and tuna fish." A jam and tuna fish sandwich? Blech. No thank you.
The detractors in this great comma divide say the serial comma is inefficient and redundant. And in many cases, that's true. But we writer-editor types like consistency. And when you're writing for an audience, it's best to be safe, not sorry. Imagine you're planning the grand opening of your new travel agency, and you overlook the serial comma in the advertising copy, "The grand opening will feature slide shows, free t-shirts and vacations to Europe." A free trip to Europe? Great. Can I bring my pet Chihuahuas, grandma and Uncle Dave?
