When to put a comma before and?

A lot of people have strong feelings about putting a comma before and in a list. Exactly why this particular quirk of comma usage stirs such passion is hard to say; it’s just one of those things. If you’ve ever heard someone arguing about serial commas or Oxford commas, this is what they were talking about.

The sentence is correct with or without the comma before and. (There are a few exceptions that require you to use the Oxford comma in a list, but they are pretty rare.) Just be consistent. Don’t switch back and forth in the same document between using the Oxford comma and not using it.

By the way, this punctuation rule applies to lists of three or more items. You should not use a comma before and if you’re mentioning only two qualities.

This is true for proper names, ordinary nouns, verbs, or anything else.

The word and is a conjunction, and when a conjunction joins two independent clauses, you should use a comma with it. The proper place for the comma is before the conjunction.

The sentence above contains two independent clauses, so it requires a comma before and. (You can tell they’re independent clauses because each one could stand on its own as a complete sentence.)

Let’s look at another example.

Once again, we have two independent clauses: “It’s cold outside” plus “I can’t find my coat.” Therefore, we need a comma before and.

Don’t use a comma before and when one of the clauses it’s connecting is a dependent clause.

The first clause, “Sam tossed the ball,” could stand on its own as a complete sentence, which means it’s an independent clause. But the second clause, “watched the dog chase it,” can’t stand by itself as a complete sentence. That means it’s a dependent clause, so we should not use a comma before and.

But wait! There’s an exception. (Isn’t there always?) When you have two independent clauses joined 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. Here’s an example:

There are three ways that "and" can be used in a sentence:

Correct: He is great, and I admire him.

In this case there are two independent clauses as I could write: "He is great." and "I admire him."

If both the independent clauses are short then some writers may choose to omit the comma before the "and", but you will never be wrong to use it. So if you're not sure then I advise you to include it.

If I wrote instead: "He is great and works hard," this is an independent clause and a dependent clause, because "works hard" is not a complete sentence.

In some circumstances, you may use a comma before a conjunction such as "and" when it starts a dependent clause. This is when you are using the comma as an Oxford comma (sometimes known as a serial comma). The conjunction must split the third item of a list. e.g. I ate, slept, and dreamed of England.

Read more about using an Oxford comma.

Correct: He ate dinner, slept all night, and awoke refreshed. (as an Oxford comma) Incorrect: He ate dinner, and awoke refreshed. (not an Oxford comma)

Should I also include a comma after "and" when it joins two independent phrases? If the word "and" is used to join two independent clauses, then there should be a comma before the "and" and never after it. You might want to include a comma after the "and", but this is never correct.

For example, when "and" is followed by a phrase beginning with a preposition, such as "for example" or "as you will see", you might think to add a comma after the "and". This is because it might seem that there is a pause there. However, as you have already included a comma before the "and" a comma here is unnecessary (and even ugly).

Here are some examples:

Incorrect: You will read this, and, as you will see, you will also understand it. Incorrect: You will read this and, as you will see, you will also understand it. Correct: You will read this, and as you will see, you will also understand it.

In English, you must put a comma before “and” when it connects two independent clauses. A clause is independent when it could stand on its own as a sentence—it has its own subject and verb. Example: Comma before “and” connecting two independent clauses Jagmeet walks to school, and Rebecca takes the bus.

A comma is a punctuation mark that indicates a slight pause between different parts of a sentence. In writing, it helps readers differentiate the clauses.  There are many guidelines to keep in mind when deciding whether to use a comma. Below, we’ll focus and elaborate on when to use a comma before the conjunction and.

A conjunction is a word that connects words, phrases, and clauses to each other. And is a type of coordinating conjunction (along with for, nor, but, or, yet, and so). Another term you should be familiar with to understand when you should (or shouldn’t) use a comma before and is independent clauses. These are clauses that can stand on their own as grammatically complete sentences. When the conjunction and connects two independent clauses, then a comma is required. For example:

In the example above, the two clauses that can stand on their own are:

Because they can stand on their own as complete sentences, a comma should be placed before the conjunction and. Here’s another example:

However, if two independent clauses are short and closely related, then a comma before and isn’t needed. It’s a stylistic choice that’s left up to the writer.

But if and connects an independent clause to a dependent clause, then you shouldn’t add a comma.

There are two schools of thought when it comes to using a comma before and in a list: you either love them or hate them. This comma is known as the Oxford, Harvard, or serial comma.

Here’s an example of an Oxford comma before and:

And here is the same sentence without the comma before and:

Different publications have their own guidelines when it comes to whether a comma has to precede the conjunction and. If you’re not sure, just ask. If you’re writing for yourself, stay consistent; pick a style and stick with it.

It’s important to note that a list with only two items (or any other type of words) does not require a comma.

A comma is commonly used to divide and link two independent phrases. It is almost never used before or after a list. In a statement, there are two main scenarios in which a comma should occur before the word “and.”

When connecting two independent phrases with “and,” use a comma before it. When “and” occurs before the last item in a list, you can also use a punctuation mark. It’s known as an Oxford comma.

To appropriately use a comma before conjunction “and,” you must understand the difference between independent and dependent clauses. A remark that may be used as a whole sentence on its own is called an independent clause. A subject, a verb, and a full notion are all present in every independent phrase.

A statement that is not a complete sentence is referred to as a dependent clause. Even if it has a subject and a verb, the concept is still insufficient. Two separate clauses can be connected by coordinating conjunctions. “Nor,” “for,”  “but,” “and,” “yet,” “or,” and “so” are the seven coordinating conjunctions. Whenever “and” joins two distinct phrases, a comma should come before “and.” Any coordinating conjunction that connects two separate clauses must follow this rule.

To unite separate sentences, a comma should only be used if coordinating conjunction like “and” is present. Combining two independent clauses with just a comma and no conjunction is incorrect.

The comma should come before the conjunction “and” when it connects two entire phrases. But take note of the phrase “complete,” which refers to the subject, verb, and object, with or without the object, depending on whether the verb is transitive.

The two clauses or phrases joined by “and” in the instances above are unmistakably separate. Because of this, the statement may be divided into two parts and separated by full stops.

Is there even a comma before “and?” Well, sometimes, it does not apply all the time. Here are some don’ts of using a comma before “and.”

There are three ways that "and" can be used in a sentence:

Correct: He is great, and I admire him.

In this case there are two independent clauses as I could write: "He is great." and "I admire him."

If both the independent clauses are short then some writers may choose to omit the comma before the "and", but you will never be wrong to use it. So if you're not sure then I advise you to include it.

If I wrote instead: "He is great and works hard," this is an independent clause and a dependent clause, because "works hard" is not a complete sentence.

In some circumstances, you may use a comma before a conjunction such as "and" when it starts a dependent clause. This is when you are using the comma as an Oxford comma (sometimes known as a serial comma). The conjunction must split the third item of a list. e.g. I ate, slept, and dreamed of England.

Read more about using an Oxford comma.

Correct: He ate dinner, slept all night, and awoke refreshed. (as an Oxford comma) Incorrect: He ate dinner, and awoke refreshed. (not an Oxford comma)

Should I also include a comma after "and" when it joins two independent phrases? If the word "and" is used to join two independent clauses, then there should be a comma before the "and" and never after it. You might want to include a comma after the "and", but this is never correct.

For example, when "and" is followed by a phrase beginning with a preposition, such as "for example" or "as you will see", you might think to add a comma after the "and". This is because it might seem that there is a pause there. However, as you have already included a comma before the "and" a comma here is unnecessary (and even ugly).

Here are some examples: