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Subject:
English punctuation
Category: Reference, Education and News Asked by: asiyah-ga List Price: $2.00 |
Posted:
14 Feb 2006 22:06 PST
Expires: 16 Mar 2006 22:06 PST Question ID: 445970 |
Can word "and" be used after using "comma" in a sentence? |
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Subject:
Re: English punctuation
Answered By: rainbow-ga on 14 Feb 2006 23:41 PST Rated: ![]() |
Hi asiyah, Yes, a comma can be used before the word "and". When you write a sentence containing a list of items, you will need to use a comma to separate the items. For example: He brought coffee, sandwiches, cheese and soda. This sentence contains a list of four items. There are commas after coffee and sandwiches, to separate the items. After cheese, the word and is used instead; however, you can also include a comma BEFORE and if you like: He brought coffee, sandwiches, cheese, and soda. This comma is optional. However, you MUST include the word and. Source: Using Commas http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/comma.htm I hope this helps. Best regards, Rainbow |
asiyah-ga
rated this answer:![]() It is a great facility to improve knowledge. I feel confident when my son poses a question. Adding tip looks cheap |
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Subject:
Re: English punctuation
From: geof-ga on 15 Feb 2006 01:23 PST |
My own view is that in a simple list, like Rainbow's list above, a comma is NOT needed, and can even be confusing - it makes it look as though buying the soda was an afterthought. But you will see that I have used a comma before "and" (after "needed") in the sentence before this, where the "and" links two clauses, and (done it again!) where a break helps the reader make sense of the text. |
Subject:
Re: English punctuation
From: myoarin-ga on 15 Feb 2006 03:30 PST |
I can think of an additional case when a comma before "and" would be appropriate: "The snackbar serves different types of sandwiches: BLTs, ham and cheese, and peanut butter and jelly." In this case, the comma is necessary to signify that "ham and cheese" is one type of sandwich and "peanut butter and jelly" is a different type. A foreigner - admittedly - might be led to think that there are also peanut butter sandwiches and jelly sandwiches, which do exist, but Americans would recognize that this is one type of sandwich. Oh, and perhaps I should explain that a "BLT" is a "bacon, lettuce and tomato" sandwich. |
Subject:
Re: English punctuation
From: rogerwilco-ga on 15 Feb 2006 04:39 PST |
I agree with Myoarin's comment. But it's good to note that always using a comma before "and" at the end of a list ("apples, eggs, and oranges") is generally expected in American English, while not using the comma ("apples, eggs and oranges") is generally expected in British English. Not that there aren't exceptions, but this is a national difference. Geof's point that commas follow 'and's used to connect sentences is also spot on. -Roger |
Subject:
Re: English punctuation
From: amber00-ga on 15 Feb 2006 14:35 PST |
What Myoarin is describing is known as an 'Oxford comma'. G@@gle on "Oxford comma" and you will find a number of descriptions and examples. |
Subject:
Re: English punctuation
From: myoarin-ga on 16 Feb 2006 07:28 PST |
Yes, that is one use of the Oxford comma, obligatory in my example. The Oxford comma is also, however, inserted before "and" in any series. I believe it was once more acceptable and common, and rather suspect that it is now not as common in America as Rogerwilco suggests. |
Subject:
Re: English punctuation
From: valbyrne-ga on 16 Feb 2006 11:28 PST |
Correct AP style (journalistic writing) maintains no comma before the "and." E.g. "He brought coffee, sandwiches, cheese and soda." |
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