The Oxford comma and the which clause

teachingmaths

teachingmaths

Member
Chinese
I looked up online and found that the Oxford comma (the comma before "and") is not used in Australia.

In the sentence below, should a comma be used before "and" to show "Embrace the challenge" is only the motto, not "vision, values and motto"?

I am enthusiastic about your school’s vision, values and the motto, which says, “Embrace the challenge”.

Thank you!
 
    • It’s up to you. There is no rule that says you must use commas that way, in any form of English.

    However, even though I’m a Brit, and British English doesn’t use the Oxford comma as standard, I would add one in that particular sentence. But I’d prefer each item to have a determiner:

    I am enthusiastic about your school’s vision, its values, and the motto, which says “Embrace the challenge”.​
     
    lingobingo said:
    It’s up to you. There is no rule that says you must use commas that way, in any form of English.

    However, even though I’m a Brit, and British English doesn’t use the Oxford comma as standard, I would add one in that particular sentence. But I’d prefer each item to have a determiner:

    I am enthusiastic about your school’s vision, its values, and its motto, which says “Embrace the challenge”.​
    Click to expand...
    I'd also make the change in bold red, above.
     
    In the sentence given, I might actually be tempted to add an and, because it seems to be talking about 2 + 1 things, rather than three equal things.

    I am enthusiastic about your school’s vision and values, and the motto, which says, “Embrace the challenge”.

    If those are seen as three equal things, you might go for the solutions given above, or remove the article for 'motto':

    I am enthusiastic about your school’s vision, values and motto, which says, “Embrace the challenge”.

    (I'm happy with no Oxford comma here.)
     
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