Welcome to Ask the Editor. I'm Emily Brewster, an associate editor at Merriam-Webster.
歡迎來到〈問問編輯〉。我是 Emily Brewster，韋氏字典的副主編。
We all know that commas separate items in a list. "I love nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs." But that last comma is shrouded in controversy—is it necessary?
我們都知道逗號可以用來區分列表裡的事項。「我喜愛名詞、動詞、形容詞和副詞。」但最後一個逗號充滿了爭議性－－有必要加嗎？
There are several names for the comma that separates the second to last item in a list from a final item that is introduced by "and" or "or." It's most commonly called the serial comma. It's also called the Harvard comma and the Oxford comma because it is used by the publishers associated with those universities.
這種逗號有很多名字，它的作用是用來區分列表上倒數第二個項目和最後一個項目，通常會跟「和（and）」或「或（or）」連用。它最普遍的稱呼是「連續逗號」。也稱作「哈佛逗號」和「牛津逗號」，因為與這些大學相關的出版社會用這種逗號。
The serial comma is optional. Publishers typically take a stand on whether or not to use it, and writers tend to feel strongly one way or the other. It is up to you. But be aware that not using the serial comma can result in some ambiguity. There is the likely factitious example of a book dedication: "I would like to thank my parents, Ayn Rand and God," where without the comma it sounds like Ayn Rand and God are the ones who begot the author. And then there is the real example from text about a documentary on the late Merle Haggard. "Among those interviewed were his two ex-wives, Kris Kristofferson and Robert Duvall."
連續逗號是非強制性的。出版社通常都會對於該不該用採取堅定的立場，而寫作者也會堅定地覺得該寫或不寫。這其實看你自己。但要注意，不採用連續逗號有可能會導致語意不清。這是有可能會出現在書中的假想致謝詞：「我想要感謝我的爸媽，Ayn Rand 和上帝。」，沒有連續逗號的話，聽起來會像 Ayn Rand 和上帝是作者的父母。接下來是真實的例子，這是已故歌手 Merle Haggard 紀錄片中的一段話。「接受訪問的包含他的兩位前妻，Kris Kristofferson 和 Robert Duvall。」
In many cases, though, no ambiguity arises. "The house has a big yard, small kitchen and few windows." "The recipe calls for sugar, butter, cream, salt and vanilla."
但其實很多狀況中，不會產生語意不清。「房子有個大庭院、小廚房和一些窗戶。」「這食譜需要糖、奶油、鮮奶油、鹽和香草。」
Like the serial comma? Use it. Or not. Newspapers have traditionally done without it as a way to save space. Dictionaries have also traditionally been concerned with space, but, we, at Merriam-Webster, use the serial comma. No one calls it the Merriam-Webster comma, but if people started to, we wouldn't object.
喜歡連續逗號嗎？那就用吧。不用也行。傳統上報紙為了節省空間都不會用連續逗號。字典在傳統上也被認為只會用一個空格，但我們韋氏字典會用連續逗號。沒有人稱它作韋氏逗號，但如果大家開始這樣叫，我們也不會拒絕喔。
For more Ask the Editor videos, visit merriam-webster.com.
想要看更多〈問問編輯〉的影片，歡迎造訪我們的網站 merriam-webster.com。
- 「採取堅定立場」- take a stand
Publishers typically take a stand on whether or not to use it, and writers tend to feel strongly one way or the other.
出版社通常都會對於該不該用採取堅定的立場，而寫作者也會堅定地覺得該寫或不寫。 - 「需要」- call for
"The recipe calls for sugar, butter, cream, salt and vanilla."
「這食譜需要糖、奶油、鮮奶油、鹽和香草。」
