comma after and in a list

Omit the comma in parentheses because He [verb phrase] [noun] doesn't require a comma between the verb phrase and the noun. Using a comma before the last item in a list is known as the Oxford Comma, sometimes the Serial Comma.It is used before conjunctions in a list like this with three or more items. The comma makes things clearer, and a recent lawsuit proves that.

Therefore, we need a comma before and.

You usually put a comma before and when it’s connecting two independent clauses.

It’s almost always optional to put a comma before and in a list.. Comma Before And in Lists. As such, even if this was a parenthetical expression, "the writer may safely omit the commas". Why is Max Verstappen's last name transliterated with a Ф ('F') instead of a В ('V')? By the way, this rule only applies to lists of three or more items. Whether or not you put a comma before and depends on how you’re using and. I’m glad this post was useful. Elementary inhomogeneous inequality for three non-negative reals. To my parents, Ayn Rand, and God. For a more relevant reference, consider Guide to Using Commas by Penn State Berks Writing Center: 2 Don’t use a comma to separate the subject from the verb. If possible, please provide a reliable source. Writing, grammar, and communication tips for your inbox. Sam and Sarah take excellent care of their pets. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. Include the comma in parentheses because pin-striped, skinny, and mean-looking is a parenthetical expression, and the trailing comma matches the leading comma (after man and before pin-striped). You, do not separate the subject from its verb with a comma.

On the London Underground, the Bakerloo Line goes through Harrow and Wealdston, Paddington, Oxford Circus and Elephant and Castle. It’s cold outside, and I can’t find my coat. Just be consistent. I left the house with the twins, Sarah and Jack. The first clause, Sam tossed the ball could stand on its own as a complete sentence, which means it’s an independent clause. This is true for proper names, ordinary nouns, verbs, or anything else. Do you disagree with something on this page. Don’t switch back and forth in the same document between using the Oxford comma and not using it.

Whether the Oxford comma is used in the noun phrase is irrelevant.

Explanations of the Oxford comma often use examples that either consist of the list alone or a sentence that ends in a list, e.g.:. They shouldn't be separated by a comma. (Isn’t there always?) Remember that any type of word can considered an item on a list. A lot of people have strong feelings about putting a comma before and in a list. Why do aircraft with turboprop engine have black painted anti-icing system?

Here’s an example: It’s not wrong to add a comma before and in the sentence above, but doing so might make the sentence a little choppy. The train will stop at Harrow, Pinner, Watford, and Bushey. What is the two-item list equivalent of the Oxford comma? 1. 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. Stack Exchange network consists of 176 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. Did Apple introduce a white list of hard drives (for MacBook Pro A1278)? Since most academic papers will be written in either MLA or APA style, students should use the serial comma. Although many of us were taught not to use a comma before and in a list, today the vast majority of style guides do advocate the use of the serial comma because it can prevent a possible misreading. On the London Underground, the Bakerloo Line goes through Harrow and Wealdston, Paddington, Oxford Circus, and Elephant and Castle. : red, white, and blue English Language & Usage Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts. (By the way, you can tell they’re independent clauses because each one could stand on its own as a complete sentence.). Thank you. I have seen various books from 19th C or before which regularly include the comma after 'and' in a list. Explanations of the Oxford comma often use examples that either consist of the list alone or a sentence that ends in a list, e.g. Don’t use a comma before and when one of the clauses it’s connecting is a dependent clause. Straight talking and methodical, "Smashing Grammar" (Our Grammar Book, 2019), Commas after interjections (yes, no, indeed), Commas before conjunctions (and, or, but). To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. Always place a comma before or when it begins an independent clause, but if it begins a dependent clause, don’t. A lot of people have strong feelings about putting a comma before and in a list. The sentence above contains two independent clauses (highlighted in green), so it requires a comma before and. But wait! I cannot understand how to properly fry seafood. @ElbyCloud You’re welcome. This man, pin-striped, skinny, and mean-looking (,) was lurking behind the gate. Grammarly catches misplaced commas and other writing issues. Why is violin tuning order the way it is? site design / logo © 2020 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under cc by-sa. I left the house with my friend, Simon, and Terry. You usually put a comma before and when it’s connecting two independent clauses. Both the Modern Language Association and the American Psychological Association require it. The proper place for the comma is before the conjunction. There’s a long-running debate over whether it’s proper to include that last comma in a list. Nevertheless, your question specifically asks about the lists containing the Oxford comma: If you consider that list to be a unit, the answer will depend on the place that unit holds within the sentence. There’s an exception. 2. rev 2020.10.27.37904, The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, English Language & Usage Stack Exchange works best with JavaScript enabled, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site, Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, Learn more about hiring developers or posting ads with us. But whether the interruption be slight or considerable, he must never omit one comma and leave the other. Why it's news that SOFIA found water when it's already been found? The dog is young, well trained, and good natured. Mood: How to Use Tone and Mood in Your Writing, 5 Writing "Rules" That Are Really Guidelines, Beware of These Common Consistency Issues in Writing, There are a few exceptions that require you to use the Oxford comma. YA Fiction Series: Color-coded magic system and protagonist kills brother at high school. Why does my model produce too good to be true output? The word and is a conjunction, and when a conjunction joins two independent clauses, you should use a comma with it. Comma after the noun of the Oxford comma? The closest that Strunk and White come to this is the discussion on parenthetical expressions (rule 3). The dog is well trained, and good natured. There is no considerable interruption between the phrases my sister and came home in your example. Is there a comma *after* a list with an Oxford comma?

That means it’s a dependent clause, so we should not use a comma before and. Do you get advantage on the Steel Wind Strike spell's attacks because you "vanish"?

Want to learn about other ways to use a comma? Can I use my work photos on my personal website? The dog is well trained and good natured. red, white, and blue To my parents, Ayn Rand, and God. Why do we have undocumented and unsupported functions in SQL Server? I left the house with my friend, Simon and Terry. It’s almost always optional to put a comma before and in a list. The sentence is correct with or without the comma before and. Thanks for contributing an answer to English Language & Usage Stack Exchange! I left the house with the twins, Simon, and Terry. You have been successfully subscribed to the Grammarly blog.

Sam tossed the ball and watched the dog chase it. In the second case, that comma is omitted. In your example, the noun phrase "my mom, my dad, and my sister" is the subject and "came" is the verb. Does the scrum master also estimate user stories?

The dog is young, well trained and good natured. Correct: An eight-year-old boy is coming to the party. What is unclear from these answers is whether there should be a comma after the last list item, when using an Oxford comma: Is there a comma after a list with an Oxford comma? People often get muddled about whether to place a comma before conjunctions like and, so, because, and or.

Your example isn't one, but the associated commentary is of some interest: This rule is difficult to apply; it is frequently hard to decide whether a single word, such as however, or a brief phrase, is or is not parenthetic. @tchrist But your mother, or your sister, do. By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy.

What is unclear from these answers is whether there should be a comma after the last list item, when using an Oxford comma:.

You should not use a comma before and if you’re only mentioning two qualities. My friend, Simon, joined the circus as a clown. In the first case, the “serial comma” or “Oxford comma” is used after the penultimate item in the list. How can I model a decorative serving tray? The final comma before the "and" is called the serial comma. Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. But the second clause, watched the dog chase it, can’t stand by itself as a complete sentence. When you have two independent clauses joined together by and, most style guides say that it’s OK to leave the comma out as long as the two independent clauses are very short and closely connected. Why does the manual for inner tube say max psi is 4.5? If you’ve ever heard someone arguing about serial commas or Oxford commas, this is what they were talking about. The Bakerloo Line runs between Harrow and Wealdstone, and Elephant and Castle. Download Grammarly's app to help with eliminating grammar errors and finding the right words. Rule #8: If You Use a Serial Comma, Use it Consistently. and you're asking whether the comma I've placed in parentheses should be present when the noun phrase is a list that employs the Oxford comma. With three list items, use a comma between the list items and before the 'and' (or whatever conjunction) if it's your local convention. There’s no single rule that applies to all situations. A list of items can be punctuated like this: We need bread, milk, cheese, and eggs. Such an old thread, but this was quite helpful to me three years later. Sam, and Sarah take excellent care of their pets.

Well, forget proper. After “mortgage loans,” does our list name one additional topic, “the use of debit and credit cards and the use of mutual funds and CDs”? Incorrect: An eight-year-old boy, is coming to the party. If the interruption to the flow of the sentence is but slight, the writer may safely omit the commas. (There are a few exceptions that require you to use the Oxford comma in a list, but they are pretty rare.) The emblem is an amalgamation of the British and Irish flags, the Stars and Stripes, and the Hammer and Sickle. In a series (or list) of three or more items, you can use a comma before or, but this is a preference, not a rule. It only takes a minute to sign up.


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