I prefer the Oxford comma.
I was watching the trial and I saw two perverts, 0vomit, and Hitlery.
I was watching the trial and I saw two perverts, 0vomit and Hitlery.
In the first case I am discussing 4 people. In the second case only 2.
That is why I, also, prefer the Oxford comma.
I like the second choice.
I was watching the trial and I saw two perverts, 0vomit, and Hitlery.
I was watching the trial and I saw two perverts, 0vomit and Hitlery.
In the first case I am discussing 4 people. In the second case only 2.
_________________________________
Ovomit and Hitlery, those perverts, were at the trial.
Those perverts, Ovomit and Hitlery, were on trial.
I watched those perverts, Ovomit and Hitlery, at the trial.
I was watching the trial of those perverts, Ovomit and Hitlery.
I was watching the trial and I saw those perverts: Ovomit and Hitlery.
My readers can count. 2 people are listed. The insertion of *two* is unnecessary and one of 2 reasons I see for the Oxford comma in your fun exercise. The other reason is the non-specific *the*. Using *those*, instead of *the*, increases specificity, ruling out confusion over the number of perverts.
My habit of leaving out the *and* (& Oxford comma) is mostly for lists of 3 or more(from WIP):
“Histories, novels, films, some authentic, some romanticized, others pure lying garbage,abound on every human world.”
“...the strongest, the cleverest, the most ruthless rose to power.”
I do utilize the Oxford comma and the conjunction when needed for clarity. If the sentence is clear, I leave out the comma preceding the conjunction. I will re-write for clarity. I recognize that I tend toward overly-long lists. I had to go through 8 pages in 12-point to find the examples, so I do attempt *accepted* usage. Sometimes the choices are a question of voice.
Fun with editing! Nerd mode off.
Thanks, g. I’ve neglected my own work since this thread began. You made me pull it up for examples. I did find Oxford commas, as well as clear sentences that left it out. Still feel rebellious about Oxford, though. It’s visceral.
Eats, shoots and leaves.