The Serial Comma

[deckardcanine]

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.