@Nat093,
Quote:overreach -.... ability, authority, or money will allow....Should I ... omit the comma before 'or'?
I wouldn't. Without the comma there seems to be some special connection between authority and money
@dalehileman,
The potential ambiguity of not using the Oxford comma is exaggerated in my opinion. It seems to me that the conjunction 'or' itself separates the last two items (i.e. 'authority' and 'money').
@Nat093,
In tyhisd case Nat you're probly right. In some cases tho the omission of a comma could cause misreading
Cen, help
@centrox,
I thought that the Oxford comma is a comma placed before the coordinating conjunction in a series of three or more items. After all, that is how it is defined.
Citing one author:
'The comma should be inserted before "the" in order to avoid ambiguity: This machine has the following functions: Print, copy, scant, and file.'
'Without the final comma, the machine might be understood as either having three functions - scan and file or four functions - scan, and file.'
Would you really interpret it that way? By saying, 'The machine can print, copy, scant and file', I could be misunderstood in your opinion?
@Nat093,
Quote:'The machine can print, copy, scant and file', I could be misunderstood in your opinion?
In
my opinion Nat, most assuredly. Immediately the q jumps into my own mind, 'Then shouldn't it be, '...copy, and scant and file'
Cen, help
