The Serial Comma

The serial comma, while often called “Oxford,”
Has fallen from favor within the UK.
American manuals tend to prescribe it,
Apart from the newspaper stylebooks today.

Although it is tiny, a lot of folks deem it
A burden unneeded in taking up space.
Yet others prefer it for being consistent
In lists and for keeping the spoken-word pace.

The people on both sides should note that it hinders
And helps comprehension of various lists,
Depending on whether a part can be read as
Renaming another. Take care; I insist.

Infrequently, phrases retain ambiguity
With or without it and must be retooled.
For instance, “my uncle, a priest and a cyclist”
Could mean one to three guys. Don’t leave readers fooled.