Commas in Lists
When there are more than two items in a list, they should be separated using commas. The last item is usually preceded with
'and', 'or' or 'but'. (These are called 'conjunctions'.) There is
normally no need to put a comma before the conjunction.
(  This
is the convention usually followed in the UK.  Look right for the US convention.)
Examples:
 The old vicar, the new vicar, the pub landlord, the mayor and the chairman
were at the meeting. 
(no comma before "and")
I have not seen any foxes, badgers or deer in these woods this year.
(no comma before "or")
A man loves his sweetheart the most, his wife the best, but his mother the longest.
(There is no need for the comma before "but". However, if you think
its inclusion helps your reader, break the ruling and put it in. See the next
section.)Use a Comma to Avoid Ambiguity or to Assist Your Reader
On occasion, it is appropriate to place a comma before the conjunction to avoid ambiguity or to assist your reader.
Examples:
The news will be shown after Dangermouse, and Rug Rats.
(Without the comma, readers could think that "Dangermouse and Rug Rats" is one programme.)
The
emblem is an amalgamation of the British and Irish flags, the Stars and Stripes, and the Hammer and Sickle.
(The word "and" appears lots of times in this example. The comma before the "and" makes it easier for the reader.)
I need to see DC Jones, PC Pinner, and PC Hoyles in my office
immediately.
(no ambiguity - comma not required)
She went to the shops for eggs, milk, and butter.
Using Lots of Adjectives (Enumeration of Adjectives)
Often in creative writing, there is a need to use several adjectives (describing words - see lesson
Adjectives). The rules about using commas in such a list of adjectives are slightly different (more relaxed):
For
TWO adjectives:
vast, inhospitable moor (with a comma)
vast and inhospitable moor (with "and")
vast inhospitable moor (with nothing)
For
THREE or more adjectives:
vast, inhospitable, windy moor (commas between)
vast, inhospitable and windy moor (comma(s) between and then "and")
vast inhospitable windy moor (nothing between)
vast inhospitable and windy moor (nothing and then "and")
There is no need to worry. In short, you cannot go wrong with two adjectives and using
three is rare. (Lining up adjectives in a row is called 'enumeration of
adjectives'.)
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BEWARE CONFUSION WITH AN EXTRA COMMA
Commas can be used to introduce additional information (called parenthesis).
For example:
My friend, Simon, lives near the concrete cows in Milton Keynes.
(In this example, commas are being used to add information about "my
friend"'.)
Therefore, if a
comma is used unnecessarily before a conjunction in a list, it
could look like parenthesis and cause confusion. For
example:
I left the pub with my friend, Simon, and Terry.
(In this sentence, I left the pub with two people: Simon and Terry.)
I left the pub with my friend, Simon and Terry.
(In this sentence, I left the pub with three people: my unnamed
friend, Simon and Terry.)
This is why you should avoid using a
comma before the conjunction in a list.
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THE US CONVENTION - USE A COMMA
In the US,
it is common practice to place a comma before the conjunction
in a list. For example:
Eggs, milk, and butter
I left the pub
with my
friend, Simon, and Terry.
This convention means that the second list item can look
like parenthesis following the first. Looking at the
second example above, it is unclear whether I left the pub
with two or three people. However, the UK convention
does not solve the issue either. For example:
My uncle left me
all his
property, warehouses and factories.
It unclear whether this means "all his property (i.e.,
warehouses and factories)" or "all his (1) property (2)
warehouses (3) factories".
The US convention does not completely eliminate the
ambiguity. For example:
My uncle left me
all his
property, warehouses, and factories.
It unclear whether this means "all his property (i.e.,
warehouses) and factories" or "all his (1) property (2)
warehouses (3) factories".
Especially given the context, the former meaning seems
highly unlikely, but it is grammatically feasible.
BE CONSISTENT - THE FINAL ADVICE
Follow one of the conventions, and stick to it throughout
your document. If you write something
ambiguous, try to reword your sentence. If that
proves too cumbersome, have the confidence to switch
conventions in the same document. Be prepared to
defend your comma (or otherwise) to your
proof-reader.
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