Teaching Myself - The Elements of Style (Serial Comma)

I find it boring to read the rules of grammar. When I was in school, I used to do the grammar part of the exam by simply asking myself, "Am I stopping here? Better to insert a comma?" Now, the life is different. I am trying to be a perfect technician who knows the rules and plays by them. 

Comma looks like a small stuff when it comes to punctuation, but it is better to address it as "mighty comma," for comma has the potential to sow the seeds of confusion more than any other punctuation mark.

Serial comma: One of the most basic usage of comma happens when we write a series of three or more terms with a single conjunction. For example:

I've brought moong sprout, red bean sprout, and chana sprout. (Well, this morning I had a meeting with someone who is doing the business of supplying sprouts, a very healthy, nutritious food).

The point here is simple: Use comma after each term in the series including the one before the conjunction. But, as with most rules in English, there is some controversy about the last comma -- the one before the conjunction. It seems not many publications follow it. For example, AP style doesn't require a comma before before the last item for a series of items, but it suggests to use it for a series of complex terms.

I would be more watchful to find who follows this rule and who flouts it. But it's important to remember, grammar rules are there to serve a purpose: to bring clarity to the reader.

Finally, if you're still wondering what are all these sprouts, here are some photos: