A serial comma (or Oxford comma) is an optional comma used before the last item in a list. For example, “bread, butter, and tax evasion” uses a serial comma, whereas “bread, butter and tax evasion” does not.
Do you use it? Why or why not?
I always use it. I don’t perceive any less of a pause between the last two items in a list than between any others, so it feels natural to put a comma there as well. Tbh, I’m so used to it that I usually have to do a double-take when it’s not there (since it looks like a grammar error to me at first).
Eh, in casual situations like this, it depends on if the , registers or not. I’m not wasting attention to go back and add one.
But otherwise, as useful. It helps clarify the difference between ands. Some ands are used to connect two things in the entire list as a unit, so when that is a factor, it helps.
Same. If it’s something like a text message or a comment on discord or Lemmy, then I don’t really pay much attention. I do try use it consistently in things like work emails or more formal situations, but it doesn’t really bother me if someone doesn’t use it in their communication.