Commas in lists · Grade 1
When you write a list of three or more things in a sentence, put commas between the items. Before the last item, write and (or or) instead of a comma: I bought apples, pears and plums.
Key facts
- Put a comma after each item except the last two: red, blue, green and yellow.
- Before the last item, and or or takes the place of a comma: Do you want tea, juice or water?
- Don't put a comma before the first item or after and.
- A comma before and is called the Oxford comma: apples, pears, and plums. It is usual in American English and is also correct; British school English usually leaves it out.
- An item can be more than one word: a pen, a ruler and a book.
Worked examples
Example 1
Add commas: We need eggs flour and sugar.
Answer: We need eggs, flour and sugar.
Example 2
Add commas: At the zoo we saw lions zebras monkeys and penguins.
Answer: At the zoo we saw lions, zebras, monkeys and penguins.
Example 3
Correct the commas: I like, football, tennis and, chess.
Answer: I like football, tennis and chess.