Commas in lists · Year 2

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.

Other years