comma usage

Do you put a comma before the word 'and' in a list of three things?

[2006]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Do you put a comma before the word 'and' in a list of three things?

Many people say you should, but I don't think having a comma there serves any useful purpose in most cases.
"in most cases" especially means when the list consists of single words.

[Clare James]

In my formal English grammar lessons, (I'm English) I was taught never to put a comma before the word 'and'. However, it is commonly used and you can find it in lots of newspaper articles etc.

But for lists of objects:
'He bought some apples, pears, bananas and satsumas.' I would say that you definitely should not use a comma here.

[rewboss]

The comma before "and" or "or" is called the "Oxford comma". Some publications insist on it.

If your editor/teacher/professor/whatever does not give you any rules regarding the use of the Oxford comma, then my personal preference would be to use it when it avoids ambiguity:

"The two companies in question are Grabbit and Dodgem and Runne."

Hmm. What are the names of the companies? Do you mean:

"Grabbit, and Dodgem and Runne"

or

"Grabbit and Dodgem, and Runne"?