Is it grammatically correct to put a comma before "and"?

It is grammatically correct to use a comma before "and" (and other coordinating conjunctions such as "but", "or", "nor") only when it splits two independent clauses (i.e. if you remove the "and" you will be left with two complete sentences), or if you're using it as an Oxford comma.

There are three ways that "and" can be used in a sentence:

• To separate two independent clauses, i.e. you should be able to remove the "and" and be left with two complete sentences.
• To separate two dependent clauses, i.e. if you took the "and" away then you wouldn't have two sentences.
• To separate items in a list, e.g. buckets and spades, or lions and tigers and bears. A comma is used before an "and" only if it is used to separate two independent clauses, or if it is used as an Oxford comma to separate the last item in a list of three or more things.

Correct: He is great, and I admire him.

In this case there are two independent clauses as I could write: "He is great." and "I admire him."

If both the independent clauses are short then some writers may choose to omit the comma before the "and", but you will never be wrong to use it. So if you're not sure then I advise you to include it.

If I wrote instead: "He is great and works hard," this is an independent clause and a dependent clause, because "works hard" is not a complete sentence.

• Correct: He is great and works hard.
• Incorrect: He is great, and works hard.

In some circumstances, you may use a comma before a conjunction such as "and" when it starts a dependent clause. This is when you are using the comma as an Oxford comma (sometimes known as a serial comma). The conjunction must split the third item of a list. e.g. I ate, slept, and dreamed of England.

Read more about using an Oxford comma.

Correct: He ate dinner, slept all night, and awoke refreshed. (as an Oxford comma) Incorrect: He ate dinner, and awoke refreshed. (not an Oxford comma)

Should I also include a comma after "and" when it joins two independent phrases? If the word "and" is used to join two independent clauses, then there should be a comma before the "and" and never after it. You might want to include a comma after the "and", but this is never correct.

For example, when "and" is followed by a phrase beginning with a preposition, such as "for example" or "as you will see", you might think to add a comma after the "and". This is because it might seem that there is a pause there. However, as you have already included a comma before the "and" a comma here is unnecessary (and even ugly).

Here are some examples:

Incorrect: You will read this, and, as you will see, you will also understand it. Incorrect: You will read this and, as you will see, you will also understand it. Correct: You will read this, and as you will see, you will also understand it.

Incorrect: He will come, and, if you see him, he will give you an autograph. Incorrect: He will come and, if you see him, he will give you an autograph. Correct: He will come, and if you see him, he will give you an autograph.

The easy way to remember this rule is that if you have an "and" that joins two independent phrases and is followed by a preposition, you should have a comma before the "and" and not after it.