What is the final serial comma and should you use it in your writing?

A final serial comma is when you add an additional comma immediately before the last conjugation in a series or list. For example you might normally say "bread, butter and jam" but if you add a final serial comma it would turn into "bread, butter, and jam".

This is normally done in upper academia and is less common in newspapers, magazines, personal letters, book reviews, essays etc. The reason is the extra comma adds an additional pause when reading, interrupting the flow and style of writing. The only time it's important to use is when it might be ambiguous what is meant by the statement, rendering an additional comma necessary.