A few weeks ago, I mentioned in this space that serial commas, also called Oxford commas, are a matter of style. So either “red, white and blue” or “red, white, and blue” can be correct depending on ...

Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. I have always liked commas, but I seem to be in a shrinking minority. The comma is in retreat, though it is not yet ...

There’s no denying that commas are helpful little flecks of punctuation. They allow us to separate written clauses and do good work when especially numerous or complicated groups of things exist in a ...

Do your clients and the courts a favor -- when distinguishing items in a list, choose critical clarity, avoid confusion, and include the Oxford comma. If you know appellate judges, you know they are ...

Here’s an interesting question posed to me recently: Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly? Look for fresh basil at your local grocery store, and, if it isn’t available, tell the ...

An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt. Impact Link brendan-c on flickr John ate a slice of pepperoni pizza, and drank a bottle of beer. If that sentence doesn't make you involuntarily scowl, then ...

Feelings about the semicolon run strong. Its proper use is a hallmark of literacy. Traditionally, the semicolon has three uses: it can replace a comma in a series that includes interior commas, such ...