Punctuation: Use Commas Between All Items In a Series

Use a comma to separate each item in a series; a series is a group of three or more items having the same function and form in a sentence.

NOTE: This is an American English rule and does not apply to British English. In British English, the last item usually does not get a comma.

1. We bought apples, peaches, and bananas today. (series of words)

2. Ann promised that she would be a good girl, that she would not bite her brother, and that she would not climb onto the television. (series of clauses)

3. The instructor looked through his briefcase, through his desk, and around the office for the lost grade book. (series of phrases)

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Exercise:

Add two commas in each of the sentences numbered 1 to 6, and three in each of the sentences numbered 7 to 10:

1. Sherry Steven and Dez decided to meet for pizza after classes.
2. I visited New York Paris and London.
3. Ally enjoys competing in races traveling around the world and eating unique cuisine.
4. I ate a sandwich Jessica drank a smoothie and Felix munched on a granola bar.
5. The applicant was willing to learn eager to work and well-prepared.
6. The industries most affected are retail trade wholesale trade and accommodation and food services.
7. Tony ran toward me fell yelled and fainted.
8. The boy leapt spun twisted and dove into the water.
9. The car smashed into the wall flipped onto its roof slid along the road and finally stopped against a tree.
10. The dog leapt into the air snatched the frisbee in its mouth landed and ran off into the forest.

Answers:

1. Sherry, Steven, and Dez decided to meet for pizza after classes.
2. I visited New York, Paris, and London.
3. Ally enjoys competing in races, traveling around the world, and eating unique cuisine.
4. I ate a sandwich, Jessica drank a smoothie, and Felix munched on a granola bar.
5. The applicant was willing to learn, eager to work, and well-prepared.
6. The industries most affected are retail trade, wholesale trade, and accommodation and food services (accommodation and food services is listed as a single industry category).
7. Tony ran toward me, fell, yelled, and fainted.
8. The boy leapt, spun, twisted, and dove into the water.
9. The car smashed into the wall, flipped onto its roof, slid along the road, and finally stopped against a tree.
10. The dog leapt into the air, snatched the frisbee in its mouth, landed, and ran off into the forest.

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