How To Use Commas List

When writing a list you should put a comma between each item except for the last item where you use and.
How to use commas list. Commas can be a particularly tricky punctuation mark. When the last comma in a series comes before and or or after daughter in law in the above example it is known as the oxford comma most newspapers and magazines drop the oxford comma in a simple series apparently. To separate the items in a list. You usually put a comma before and when it s connecting two independent clauses. While there s some degree of flexibility in how commas are used it s important to have a clear grasp of the rules.
With three list items use a comma between the list items and before the and or whatever conjunction if it s your local convention. Commas should be used before and when joining two independent clauses or when compiling a list. A lot of people have strong feelings about putting a comma before and in a list. With two list items don t use a comma. My estate goes to my husband son daughter in law and nephew.
The school has a vegetable garden in which the children grow cabbages onions potatoes and carrots. Whether or not you put a comma before and depends on how you re using and there s no single rule that applies to all situations. When correcting a comma splice that is when joining two independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction put the comma before and. Use commas to separate words and word groups in a simple series of three or more items. A comma is a form of punctuation that indicates a pause in a sentence and separates items in a list.
I need to go to the supermarket to buy eggs milk bread sugar and. Comma before and in lists. There are some cases where you know you should use a comma such as when separating items in a list but there are other times when you might be unsure whether or not a comma is needed. Place a comma between each item in the list unless you are writing in associated press style. Punctuation is used to separate the items in the list.
The usual way of doing this is to place a comma after each item in the list. This page explains when to use commas in lists has lots of examples and includes an interactive exercise. Period question mark exclamation point comma semicolon colon dash hyphen parentheses brackets braces. Use commas when writing a list of at least three words phrases or clauses in a sentence. Oxford commas are also known as serial or harvard commas.