"Punctuation has purpose... [it is] an
important tool in ascribing meaning, idea, thought, intention and
mood to what the author of the written words seeks to impart or
convey to the reader."
These were the words of Honourable Judge van der Westhuizen in
the case Auto Alpina v Abrina 3765 Pty Ltd, case number
66026/18 ("Alpina case"). In his judgment, Van Der
Westhuizen J placed particular importance on the placement of the
"Oxford comma" in interpreting a contract that had been
entered into between the two parties.
The use of the oxford comma is commonly used before the word
"and" or before the word "or" where there is a
list of three or more items in a sentence and its purpose is to
avoid ambiguity in a sentence. By way of example, if one writes a
sentence as follows "The singers, Prince Harry and Mother
Theresa were invited to a party" without the use of a
comma before the word "and" it would give the
impression that Prince Harry and Mother Theresa are the
