Table of Contents
Do you need a comma before the last item in a list?
Do not place a comma after the last item in the list (see fourth example below) unless the structure of the sentence otherwise requires it (see third example below, in which the comma after audience is required to separate an introductory dependent clause from the main clause).
When listing multiple things do you put a comma before and?
Whether or not you put a comma before and depends on how you’re using and. There’s no single rule that applies to all situations. You usually put a comma before and when it’s connecting two independent clauses. It’s almost always optional to put a comma before and in a list.
Do you put a comma when listing three things?
As mentioned above, when you are listing three or more items, commas should separate each element of the list. However, the final comma—the one that comes before the and—is optional. This comma is called the serial comma or the Oxford comma. Whether or not you use the serial comma is a style choice.
How do you list multiple items in a sentence?
Whenever you have three or more items in a series, each item requires punctuation to separate it from the others. Depending on the complexity of the list, you can use either commas or semicolons.
How do you punctuate a list of names?
There are three punctuation marks involved in making a list in a sentence: the comma, colon, and semicolon. Which you use depends on how complex your list is. If you are writing a simple list, you can just insert a comma after each item.
How do you use commas with multiple things?
Rule 1. Use commas to separate words and word groups in a simple series of three or more items. Example: My estate goes to my husband, son, daughter-in-law, and nephew. Note: When the last comma in a series comes before and or or (after daughter-in-law in the above example), it is known as the Oxford comma.
How do you punctuate a list?
lower-case letters or capitals at the start of each list item. punctuation after each list item….The Right Way to Punctuate Lists
- a comma or no punctuation for lists that do not contain the main verb.
- a full stop after each sentence for lists that contain at least one item with multiple sentences.
- a semicolon otherwise.
Do you use commas or semicolons in a list?
Use a semicolon between items in a list or series if any of the items contain commas. Use a semicolon between independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction if the clauses are already punctuated with commas or if the clauses are lengthy.
How do you list multiple names?
Normally when listing a group of people you would simply separate each with a comma. Please send the memo to Jason, Sarah, and Courtney. It would end up looking like a list 6 people (or 5).