Oxford comma example funny santa letters

The Oxford comma has the distinction of being one of the most hotly debated elements of the English language. Also referred to as the serial comma, this little punctuation mark has been fiercely defended — or shrugged off — by grammarians for years.

Get an all-inclusive guide to everything about the Oxford comma so you can take your own stance on using it.

So what is this questionable Oxford comma?

Oxford comma example funny santa letters

The Oxford comma is, you guessed it, a comma! It's placed in a series of three or more items before the coordinating conjunction. (You'll also see it called a series comma or a serial comma.) It can be used in both "and" and "or" lists as the last comma separating a series of items.

It works to help order these items and provide a distinction between the items on the list, particularly the last two items. See several Oxford comma examples at play to understand the basics of how it works.

• She liked to read books, paint portraits, and take her dog for a