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Rule "Warn when the serial comma is not used"

This is one of many errors that LanguageTool can detect.

Description: Warn when the serial comma is not used
Message: The serial comma (Oxford comma, Harvard comma) is missing.
Category: Style (ID: STYLE)
Link: https://languagetool.org/insights/post/oxford-comma/
Tags: [picky]
Incorrect sentences
that this rule can detect:
  • While air, water and food are necessary for life, we cannot so easily categorize the prerequisites of happiness.
    Correction suggestion: water, and
  • Since rice, maize and manioc have replaced traditional African foods, the ...
    Correction suggestion: maize, and
  • With cats, dogs and rabbits as the most popular pets for children, we find that ...
    Correction suggestion: dogs, and
  • In Art, Music and Literature, these themes are common.
    Correction suggestion: Music, and
Correct sentences
for comparison:
  • She speaks Spanish, German and French.
  • In addition, Continental and Delta are counting double miles earned through November 15 toward elite status.
  • But today, commerce and security is COMPLETELY DEPENDENT on those systems.
  • In particular, Bosnia and Herzegovina were among the stronger players with a growth of 20%.
  • In Europe, lesbian and gay evangelical Christians have a European forum.
  • In one, Carley and Erin look like sisters.
  • She took a photograph of her parents, the president and the vice president.
  • Would you like tea, coffee, water or wine?
  • How will you go to the city? Will you use my car, your car or the train?
  • She speaks Spanish, German, and French.
  • Irina, a singer and actress, was born in Poland.
  • They became polarised into two camps, with Marx and Bakunin as their respective figureheads.
  • The International Time Bureau began a time scale, Tm or AM, in July 1955, using both local caesium clocks and ...
  • Generally who visits their parents the most, sons or daughters?
  • While he was growing up, his father and Nick Bollettieri trained him in this way.
  • Since being introduced by Portuguese in the 16th century, maize and manioc have replaced traditional African...
  • Which do you like better, summer or winter?
  • Since then, investors and analysts have been calling with increasing vehemence for the company to divulge full details of its business dealings with other related entities.
  • With the rise of space tourism, NASA and the Russian Federal Space Agency agreed to use...
  • On the other hand, consonants and vowels are written as independent letters.
  • In spite of their various differences, Joan and Ann are friends.
  • In addition to buses, Calgary and Edmonton operate light rail transit systems.
  • It was Branchus, son or lover of Apollo.
  • His father was Hermann Einstein, a salesman and engineer.
  • Recorded by Ptolemy, the geographer and astronomer from Alexandria
  • ... and according to Alberta Economic Development, Calgary and Edmonton both host over four million visitors.
  • According to Alberta Economic Development, Calgary and Edmonton both host over four million visitors.
  • I like both chips and eggs and pie and peas.
  • Art, literature and film.
  • Art is used in rituals, performances and dances as a decoration or symbol.
  • Legislative power is vested in the President, the government and parliament.
  • This music focuses on themes in love, religious and epic.
  • But in some jurisdictions, the state or prosecution may appeal "as of right" from a trial.
  • Likewise, in some jurisdictions, the state or prosecution may appeal an issue of law "by leave".
  • Meanwhile, plains and foothills are characterized by high solar radiation.
  • Chapter 2: Albedo, a whitening or leucosis
  • Barnett, William and John Hoopes (editors).
  • In 2008, Peter and Jill visited Europe.
  • ... breeding site, the males usually arriving first, calling and setting up territories.
  • Carl Jung, Man and His Symbols.
  • ... his first visit to Paris as a gift to his hosts, Robert and Mabel Schirmer.
  • Whenever an army is raised for common defense, colonels and military ranks below colonel will be named by the...
  • Which is the capital of the United States, Washington or New York?
  • Which would you like to have with your bread, butter or cheese?
  • ... yields are around 2 t/ha, African under 1 t/ha, Egypt and Arabia up to 3.5 to 4 t/ha with irrigation.
  • In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables.
  • Which would you like to have with your bread, butter or cheese?
  • In the drought, many people and animals starved to death.
ID: SERIAL_COMMA_ON [2]
Version: 6.6-SNAPSHOT (2024-12-09 22:33:08 +0100)