Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Toby]

Should you have a comma before 'and'. I always thought not, but it happens alot in American text books. I am not sure I have seen it in English text books.

Or am I totally wrong?

[kangnamdragon]

It is optional.

[Zyzyfer]

american grammar has a comma, and everyone else has a lack of a comma.

[Harpeau]

Good question. I've seen both ways used. It's a head scratcher~ that one!

[the_beaver]

It's called an Oxford comma.

It's optional.

[OiGirl]

Both are acceptable. Pick one and keep it consistent.

[kangnamdragon]

[kimchikowboy]

Depends.
Traditionally, it was taught that one should use a comma when listing three or more things. At least in ancient times, when I was a student.
For example:
Tom, Dick, and Harry went to the movies.

Nowadays, (according to a jerkoff former uni prof) it isn't generally accepted. This is the same as Associated Press style, which is taught in most journalism schools. So you are safe with omitting the comma.
However, you do need the comma when linking two independent clauses to make a compound sentence (especially if the clauses are not exceedingly short).
I went to the movies and I ate popcorn. (You can get away with ommitting the comma here, though, if you are the type to stay up late obsessing over whether "anal retentive" should be hyphenated [it depends on if it us used in front of a noun; I suspect by your use of "alot" that you are not subject to sleeplessness due to pondering the finer points of grammar]).

For example:
I went to the movies the other night with the little woman, and we ate two boxes of popcorn and a bag of hot buttered squid legs.

Here, you should use the comma.
Of course, with lists involving commas within the items listed, we have the semi-colon. But I'll keep you in suspense regarding that little dickens.

Mmmmm, hot buttered squid legs....

[Toby]

Is it not the difference between English and American? A friend told me that that was he thought it was.

Anyway. Do Americans speak english or american?

[the_beaver]

[Mr. Pink]

[matthewwoodford]

I was taught growing up that you shouldn't put a comma before 'and' and so there should be no comma after the penultimate item in a list (I bought some sugar, a pint of milk, some flour and a chocolate bar). Moreover, if two or more items in the list go together this is shown by their not being separated by commas (I bought some sugar, a pint of milk, a pencil and eraser, some flour and a chocolate bar).

H'mmm, I was going to say that now I put a comma before the 'and' at the end of lists because it's more logical, but now I'm all confused. The hell with it, just do what you like seems like good advice to me.

Btw, are Americans taught different?