You’re typing away at your latest and greatest copywriting task, crafting an important email to clients listing your services: “We offer content strategy, copywriting, editing and proofreading.” But wait… should there be a comma before that “and”?
That little comma before the final item in a list is known as the Oxford comma (also known as the serial comma). It’s that tiny punctuation mark that appears before the conjunction (usually “and” or “or”) in a list of three or more items. In our example, the Oxford comma version would read: “We offer content strategy, copywriting, editing, and proofreading.”
Such a small mark, such big debates!
This seemingly minor punctuation choice has sparked passionate arguments among writers, editors, and style guide devotees for decades. And if you’re using Google Docs for your professional writing, understanding when and why to use the Oxford comma matters more than you might think.
The Great Comma Debate: To Use or Not to Use?
The Oxford comma is one of the most divisive punctuation marks in the English language (although the em dash is certainly making a case for itself as it relates to AI writing).
But what are the two sides of this great comma debate, and why does it matter in professional writing?
Team Oxford Comma
Proponents of the Oxford comma (including the style guides of Oxford University Press, Chicago Manual of Style, and the MLA) argue that this punctuation mark provides clarity and prevents ambiguity.
Consider this classic example:
- Without the Oxford comma: “I’d like to thank my parents, Lady Gaga and Oprah Winfrey.”
- With the Oxford comma: “I’d like to thank my parents, Lady Gaga, and Oprah Winfrey.”
In the first sentence, it sounds like Lady Gaga and Oprah Winfrey are your parents (which would be quite the lineage!). The Oxford comma in the second sentence makes it clear that you’re thanking three separate entities.
Team Anti-Oxford Comma
On the other side of the argument, many publications, like newspapers and news sites, that follow AP Style typically omit the Oxford comma to save space. It’s a holdover from when print newspapers needed to conserve every character possible. Some argue that most sentences can be rewritten to avoid ambiguity without needing that extra comma.
The anti-Oxford camp suggests that in most straightforward lists, the meaning is clear without the additional punctuation: “The American flag is red, white and blue.”
Oxford Comma in Google Docs: Practical Considerations
Google Docs doesn’t have a built-in preference for or against the Oxford comma. That choice is entirely yours as a writer. However, Google Docs does offer some helpful tools for maintaining consistency in your comma usage:
Using Google Docs to Enforce Your Oxford Comma Preference
If you’re firmly Team Oxford Comma (as many professional editors are), you can use Google Docs’ tools to help maintain consistency:
- Spelling and Grammar Check: While Microsoft Word has a setting to do so, Google Docs won’t specifically flag missing Oxford commas. However, its grammar suggestions might occasionally catch ambiguous sentences that could benefit from one.
- Find and Replace: If you need to add Oxford commas throughout a document, use Ctrl+F (or Cmd+F on Mac) to search for patterns like “and” and review each instance.
- Add-ons and Extensions: Some Google Docs add-ons, like Grammarly, can be configured (often in workaround ways) to flag missing Oxford commas based on your selected style guide.
- Style Guide Templates: Create a Google Doc template with your style preferences (including Oxford comma usage) that your team can use as a reference.
Why the Oxford Comma Matters in Professional Writing
So, why should you care about the Oxford comma in professional writing? Here are a few reasons:
Clarity Is King
The primary argument for the Oxford comma is clarity. In business writing, legal documents, or any professional context, ambiguity can lead to misunderstandings, disputes, or even legal issues.
In fact, in 2018, a Maine dairy company famously had to pay $5 million in a labor dispute because of an ambiguous law that lacked an Oxford comma. The court determined that without the Oxford comma, the meaning of the law was unclear, which favored the dairy drivers in their overtime claim.
Consistency Builds Trust
Whether you choose to use the Oxford comma or not, consistency throughout your documents signals professionalism and attention to detail. Switching between using and not using the Oxford comma within the same document can make your writing appear sloppy.
Maintaining this consistency is easier when you establish clear guidelines for yourself or your team upfront.
Professional Standards Matter
Many professional fields have established style preferences:
- Academic writing: Typically required
- Journalism: Often omitted (following AP Style)
- Legal writing: Usually included for clarity
- Marketing and creative writing: Varies by brand style guide
How to Decide: Should YOU Use the Oxford Comma?
Short answer? Maybe.
The decision ultimately depends on several factors:
1. Your Industry Standards
Research what’s standard in your field. If you’re in journalism, you might follow AP Style (no Oxford comma). If you’re in academia or publishing, you’ll likely use the Oxford comma.
2. Your Organization’s Style Guide
Many companies have established style guides that dictate the use of commas. Check if yours does—and if not, consider creating a source-of-truth style guide that you can share with your team.
3. Clarity Needs
If your writing frequently includes complex lists where ambiguity could be an issue, the Oxford comma is your friend. If your lists are simple, you might choose to omit their use.
4. Personal Preference
If you’re not bound by specific style requirements, your personal preference matters. Many professional editors lean toward including the Oxford comma for maximum clarity; however, it’s ultimately your choice.
Best Practices for Oxford Comma Usage
Regardless of which side of the debate you land on, here are some best practices:
- Be consistent: Choose your approach and stick with it throughout your document.
- Create a style guide: Document your company’s preferred style in a Google Docs document for easy reference.
- Prioritize clarity: If omitting the Oxford comma creates ambiguity in a specific sentence, use it in that instance, even if you generally don’t.
- Consider your audience: Technical or legal documents benefit from the additional clarity of the Oxford comma.
- Use collaboration features: When working with a team, use comments to flag inconsistent comma usage during the review process.
- Consider readability: The Oxford comma creates a natural pause, making complex lists easier to process.
Striking the Perfect Balance in Comma Usage
Whether you’re Team Oxford Comma or prefer to leave it out, knowing the implications of this tiny punctuation mark can significantly impact your professional writing. Regardless of the writing platform you’re using, consistency and clarity should be your north stars.
Getting punctuation right in your writing is key to clear and effective communication. But let’s face it—comma usage can still trip up even the best writers and content creators. The result is usually content that confuses readers or, worse, makes them question your credibility.
If keeping your punctuation consistent feels like a hassle or you’d rather not stress about it, let EditorNinja’s editing professionals handle it for you! Think of EditorNinja as an insurance policy for your writing. We’ll make sure that your writing is clear, correct, and professional—Oxford commas (or not) and everything in between.