While it’s funny, it’s not. Using commas in your writing helps readers process what you’re saying and makes reading easier.

What’s an Oxford Comma?

An Oxford comma, which is commonly called a serial comma, is the last comma in a series of commas that divides up your words. You can choose to use Oxford commas on your website, in your blog or in your printed materials, but the key is to be consistent. Don’t use them in some places and skip them in others.

The Oxford comma is red:

  • I like cooking, my family, and my pets.
  • She went to the bank, school, and David’s house.
  • I eat eggs, cereal, waffles, and pancakes.

Again, you can choose whether you’d like to use them in your writing. There’s no Internet law that says you can’t (although, in this writer’s humble opinion, they clutter up the space you could be using for better things).

The key is consistency. Don’t use them on one page and skip them on another page.