Comma before "And"

search our site by Craig Shrives

Using a Comma before "And"

More about Using a Comma before "And" and Other Conjunctions

"And" is a conjunction. Two other common conjunctions are "or" and "but." (There are others, but these three are by far the most common.)

Unfortunately, the rules governing when to use a comma before "and" are not simple because it depends how the conjunction is being used and what writing convention you're following.

Let's start with the main rule and add the detail later.

The Main Rule

Use a comma before "and" (or any conjunction) that joins two sentences into one. For example:
+ +

When two sentences are turned into one (as above), the sentences become independent clauses (an independent clause is a clause that could stand alone as a sentence).

• Mark is scared of spiders.
(This works as a complete sentence.)
• He hates cockroaches.
(This also works as a complete sentence.)

When "and" joins two "sentences," a comma is required before it. In this example, the conjunction is "and," but this rule is true for any conjunction (e.g., "but," "or").

Another Example of "And" Joining Two Independent Clauses

• I will read your plan, and I may steal it.

Let's look at this sentence again:
+ +

Both halves are independent clauses (i.e., both would work as sentences). Therefore, a comma is required before the conjunction "and."

A More Complicated Example

Here is a slightly more complicated example:

• Applicants must be able to tell jokes and sing, and they must be able to dance.
(The first "and" is just a conjunction in a list.)

Let's look at this sentence again:
+ +

This is two independent clauses joined by the conjunction "and." Therefore, a comma is required before "and."

Example of a Conjunction Not Joining Two Independent Clauses

This sentence does not contain two independent clauses:

• Applicants must be able to sing and be classically trained dancers.
(The words after "and" are not a sentence. That's why there's no comma before "and.")

Let's look at this sentence again:
+ +

In this example, "be classically trained dancers" could not be a sentence. It's not an independent clause. So, the conjunction "and" is not joining two independent clauses. Therefore, a comma is not required before "and." The "and" in this sentence is just joining two list items: "be able to sing" and "be classically trained dancers."

Some Real-Life Examples

Here are some real-life examples with commas used correctly before conjunctions:

• A little dog can start a hare, but it takes a big one to catch it.
• Basically my wife was immature. I'd be at home in my bath, and she'd come in and sink my boats. (Actor Woody Allen)
• The play was a great success, but the audience was a disaster. (Playwright Oscar Wilde)
• We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. (British Prime Minister Winston Churchill)

This example is wrong. There should be a comma before the "and."

• Drink is the curse of the land. It makes you fight with your neighbor. It makes you shoot at your landlord and it makes you miss him. (Well-cited Irish quotation by anon)
("It makes you shoot at your landlord" and "It makes you miss him" are independent clauses. Therefore, a comma required before "and.")

No Comma Necessary for Short Clauses

Be aware that if the two "sentences" (i.e., the independent clauses) are very short, it is acceptable – for style purposes – to omit the comma.

• Craig joined the Army and Darren joined the Marines.
• Craig joined the Army, and Darren joined the Marines.
(Both versions are acceptable.)

More about Using a Comma before "And"

Don't Use a Comma to Join Two List Items

Do not use a comma before "and" (or any conjunction) that joins two list items. For example:

• Burger and fries
• She would only drink water and wine.
• We have never been to Europe, or Asia.
(With two list items, there is no need for the comma.)

The Rules with Three List Items

When there are three or more list items, things get complicated because there are two conventions. As a general observation, those following US writing conventions use a comma before the conjunction in a list of three or more things, but those following UK writing conventions do not. For example:

• burger, shake, and fries ()
• burger, shake and fries ()
• burger, shake and fries ()

• We have never been to Europe, Asia, or South America. ()
• We have never been to Europe, Asia or South America. ()
• We have never been to Europe, Asia or South America. ()

The comma before a conjunction in a list is known as an Oxford comma or a serial comma. Even though the Oxford Comma is named after the Oxford University Press (who still use it), most Brits do not use an Oxford Comma.

Here is an infographic summarizing all the rules of using a comma before "and":

Show me an infographic

Read more about conjunctions and commas. Read more about commas in lists. Read more about the Oxford Comma.

Too Many Commas? Use a Semicolon

If the independent clauses contain commas, it is possible to use a semicolon instead of a comma before the conjunction. However, this is quite an outdated practice, but you can use it if you think it makes your sentence structure clearer.

• Last year, PLC provided the material; and we, L&S Ltd, built the road.
(Here, the author has used a semicolon (instead of a comma) before "and" because the independent clauses have their own commas. This is acceptable for clarity, but it's an old-fashioned writing style.)

Read more about using semicolons before conjunctions.

Video Lesson

Here is a video summarizing this lesson using a comma before a conjunction like "and":

Printable Test