Title

AN ORDINANCE relating to the use of serial commas in ordinances and motions; and adding a new section to K.C.C. chapter 1.02.

Body

                     BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:

                     SECTION 1. Findings:

                     A.  A serial comma, which is the comma used after the next-to-last item in a series of three or more items when the next-to-last and last items are separated by a conjunction, has not been the standard for punctuation in King County ordinances and motions.  However, the use of the serial comma can help avoid ambiguities inherent in not using the serial comma, especially in the situation of whether to apply a subsequent modifier to all the listed elements or just the last in the list. 

                     B. This ordinance adopts a requirement for ordinances and motions to use a serial comma. 

                     NEW SECTION.  SECTION 2.  There is hereby added to K.C.C. chapter 1.02 a new section to read as follows:

                     Beginning the effective date of this ordinance, use of the serial comma is the standard for King County ordinances and motions.  Ordinances adopted and motions passed before the effective date of this ordinance that include a listing of three or more items are to be construed to include serial commas unless the context dictates otherwise.