Oxford comma

noun

1. a comma between the final items in a list, often preceding the word `and' or `or', such as the final comma in the list newspapers, magazines, and books

Word History and Origins

Origin of Oxford comma¹

C20: because it was traditionally a feature of the house style at Oxford University Press

Example Sentences

“He liked to use the Oxford comma,” Westerhout testified.

From Salon

“My recollection was that there were certain words that he liked to capitalize. Words like country, and he liked to use exclamation points … It’s my understanding that he liked to use the Oxford comma.”

From Seattle Times

"It is my understanding that he liked to use the Oxford comma," she added.

From BBC

On his website, he described himself as a “militant bicyclist” and “a proponent of the singular they, the Oxford comma, and pre-Elon Twitter.”

From Seattle Times

On his website, he described himself as a “militant bicyclist” and “a proponent of the singular they, the Oxford comma, and pre-Elon Twitter.“

From Washington Times