Whenever you write a list of objects, you must separate the objects by putting commas in between the words. Look at this example: I put a sandwich, an apple, and two cookies into my lunch.
Notice how there is a comma after sandwich and a comma after apple. We do not put a comma after the final item in a list.
Here are more examples:
Bring your swimsuit, sunscreen, and a towel when we go to the pool.
We need a paddle, a ball, and a court to play pickleball.
Some people prefer not to put a comma just before the word and. The comma before and is known as the “Oxford Comma” because it was standardized at Oxford University in England. However, in scholarly writing, the Oxford Comma is expected, so we will use it when we write.
Always place a comma after the objects in a list that come before the word and.
It’s your turn. Put commas into this sentence: In our cooler, we have ice soda beer fruit and cheese. Did you put four commas into the sentence? Good for you!