Proper Punctuation - Know how?

CantWait wrote: When you're writting a sentence and you name things such as

For dinner today we had turkey, mashed potatoes, and peas.

or

For dinner today we had turkey, mashed potatoes and peas.

is there a , after the potatoes when an and is coming after it????

Which sentence is correct? (I went back and put periods at the end cause I know there's going to be a smartie pants that says something, so I beat ya to it )

moped replied: I think the second one is technically correct, but I would do it the first way

MommyToAshley replied: One of the copywriters that we work with had told me that it is correct either way. (I asked her the same question ) She said that in academic papers, you usually see the comma. In newspaper and other media, you usually don't see the comma. But, the trend now is to go without the comma before the "and". I like it better with the comma though.

Boo&BugsMom replied: In school I was always taught to go with the comma.

lisar replied:

My2Beauties replied: See in school I was always taught not to use the comma before "and" or "or"

cameragirl21 replied: In school I was taught to use a comma but I've learned since then that either way is correct. It is more common to leave the comma out unless you are dealing with a technical writer or a doctoral thesis, etc.
I am a stickler for grammar, spelling, and punctuation and most of the time if I edit a post here it's for one of those reasons so I know how you feel about wanting to get it just so. But in common use the comma is omitted. You can write it either way and still be right.

CantWait replied:
Me too, that's what I was taught.

However when I was correcting Robbie's PowerPoint Presentation today, he didn't have the comma, and he thought that it was correct.

luvmykids replied:
Me too.

Calimama replied:
Same here.

My3LilMonkeys replied:
same here. The grammar checker in word says either way is okay.

Sam & Abby's Mom replied:
yep

Kentuckychick replied: The second one is the technically correct way. You are supposed to use a comma only if there are more than two items before the "and"...

For dinner I had turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, and peas.

For dinner I had turkey, grave and mashed potatoes.

I never really understood why... but that's the gramatically correct way to go.

Edited to add -- okay so lol, I looked it up online just to be sure and the direct quote says "Confusion is caused by the fact that the rule has been changed several times over the years. The current rule, however, requires that you include a comma with the conjuction" -- and that's in every instance.

So it sounds like it doesn't really matter either way

punkeemunkee'smom replied: If you are listing 3 things or more you use the comma before the and.

Which I guess would mean any list at all since if you are only talking about 2 things you would just say ________ and ________ , no need to put a comma there anyway

(That is what I was always taught anyway)

Nina J replied: I wouldn't use the comma after the word and. I don't believe I have ever seen it like that.

In all honesty I am not very good at punctuation. But, I have always thought that a comma signalled a pause of sorts. So, when I am reading I type as I would speak. If I told someone I had chicken, corn and potato for dinner, I would not pause after the 'and' as I would after the 'chicken' and 'corn'. But even so, it is just a slight pause rather than just rambling on.

The grammar checker on word is not really that amazing and smart. Lol, it often tells me to change sentences so they make no sense

jcc64 replied:

I am currently an English major, and BELIEVE me, my professors are ruthless about grammar and punctuation. If I submitted anything but the above example, I would be marked down. Comma before the conjunction.

jem0622 replied: The first. I majored in English and have been in Technical Writing/Editing for 12 yrs now.

I detest not seeing the separating commas! I have to fix them often.

Crystalina replied:

I was taught that you would NOT need the (,) after the word potatoes seeing as it is followed by the word (and). I was taught that the (,) is like the word (and) when listing/naming items like this which means you would be saying, "...mashed potatoes and and peas."