Do Oxford Commas Reduce Ambiguity?
The answer isn’t as straightforward as many writers suggest.
Try reading each of these lists to yourself:
“Red, white, and blue.”
“Red, white and blue.”
Which was easier to understand?
Chances are, you didn’t have much trouble with either of them. Both lists are grammatically correct, and both lists have the same meaning.
The only difference between the two is the comma appearing between the words “white” and “and” in the first list.
This final comma is called an Oxford or serial comma, and despite its relatively small grammatical role, it has been the subject of many heated debates.
Some style guides recommend it, others shun it, and many writers have strong opinions about which side is correct.
The truth is that the Oxford comma’s usefulness depends entirely on its context.
How the Oxford Comma Reduces Ambiguity
Supporters of the Oxford comma argue that it helps reduce ambiguity. This is often true.
For example, take the following sentence: “Joe went to the store with his parents, Superman and Wonder Woman.”
