To comma or not to comma?

Full disclosure: I like commas, always have. They’re cheap, widely available, and so darned cute. And I fully admit to overusing them, on occasion. Like now, for instance. Did I need the comma between “overusing them” and “on occasion”? Nope, not at all. The sentence would’ve read fine without it. I just like 'em.

But while some commas are optional, one must-have comma, ground into me since childhood grammar lessons, is  the “serial comma.” This is the one that precedes the “and”  or “or” at the end of the list, and is 100% non-negotiable (well, for me at least). For example, if one were going to pack for an exciting trip abroad:  

Correct: She packed her stockings, garters, and heels.

Incorrect: She packed her stockings, garters and heels. 

So when Nik and I started writing together, I was amazed that he omits, more often than not, the serial comma. I know times are tough and we all need to economize, but there are many more commas I’d cut before the serial. 

The great comma debate: Well, as it turns out, the serial comma, also known as the Oxford comma, isn’t blindly used across the UK. In fact, as I started Googling the situation, it seems that there’s something of a raging debate over said comma, the so-called Oxford-Cambridge divide. 

Now far be it from me to insert myself in a centuries-old feud, but here’s a quick who’s who:

Team Comma: 

• The US Government Printing Office Style Manual

• The Chicago Manual of Style

• Elements of Style - Strunk and White

• MLA Style Manual

• The Oxford Style Manual

Team Only-When-Necessary-to-Avoid-Ambiguity:

• Style guides for The Guardian, The Times, The NY Times, and The Economist

• The Australian Government Style Manual

• The Cambridge Guide to English Usage

For lack of a comma. One of the most famous examples of the ambiguity that can result from a missing serial comma comes from a documentary of Peter Ustinov published, somewhat ironically, in The Times (“Planet Ustinov,” 22 Nov 1998):

“highlights of his global tour include encounters with Nelson Mandela, an 800-year-old demigod and a dildo collector.”

Not knowing how Mr Mandela occupied himself in his spare time, I can’t comment on his alleged collection. And he could've be a demigod, for all I know. But I’m fairly certain he wasn't 800 years old. 

Here are some more examples, I’m making these up in my head as I fold the laundry:

Happy to be home, he hugged his sons, Charlene and Abigail. 

Touring the city, she purchased gifts for her mother, lace panties and cigars.

He visited his aunt’s house, a massage parlor and a bookstore. 

See? I could go on and on. 

Fully admitting my bias, I think Garner’s American Usage has the best take on the situation:

“Whether to include the serial comma has sparked many arguments. But it’s easily answered in favor of inclusion because omitting the final comma many cause ambiguities, whereas including it never will.”

Or will it? Try as I might, I can’t seem to come up with an example where my beloved serial comma actually introduces ambiguity. Can you?