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Rule "Warn when the serial comma is not used"

This is one of many errors that LanguageTool can detect. Visit the LanguageTool homepage to use it online or download it for free.

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.
Pattern: Show XML · Show in Rule Editor
Check the following text against just this rule:

ID: SERIAL_COMMA_ON [2]
Version: 6.5-SNAPSHOT (2024-04-25 22:33:07 +0200)