human
I've always wondered how to properly use the Oxford comma in my writing. Can you give me some tips?
assistant
Sure! The Oxford comma is a punctuation mark used when listing items in a series, such as a list of three or more items. It's also commonly used in newspaper headlines and other formal writing situations. Here are some tips on using it correctly: 
1. Use the Oxford comma before the conjunction if the item before it could be interpreted as an independent clause.
2. Use the Oxford comma after the last item in a series if there is no natural pause between the items.
3. Don't use the Oxford comma if the items are already listed together without commas. For example, "I like apples, bananas, and pears." In this case, the word 'and' should be used instead of the Oxford comma.