How To Use Commas For A List
Use commas when writing a list of at least three words phrases or clauses in a sentence.
How to use commas for a list. Don t put a comma after a number. Include at least three list sentences. In that case you would not place a comma before the and that joins the final two items. The comma in front of the word and is optional. Place a comma between each item in the list unless you are writing in associated press style.
You need commas between each item on the list with one important exception. Commas are used to separate list items. The last item in a list is often preceded by the words and or or. This probably the first use of commas you learned in school. But if you want to throw an extra comma there you re welcome to do so.
Punctuation is used to separate the items in the list. In the text words such as greenbacks ironclads and blockade were used. The school has a vegetable garden in which the children grow cabbages onions potatoes and carrots. The cake mix requires flour sugar eggs and butter. For more on this see rule 8.
In the text words such as greenbacks ironclads and blockade were used. 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. When writing a list you should put a comma between each item except for the last itemwhere you use and. Separating items in a list of three or more things.
Never put a comma in front of the first item on the list. Use commas to separate items in a list. Note that some style guides would not add the comma after the word eggs. With two list items don t use a comma. Because when you say and you ve already separated the last two items.