Do I need a comma when listing 3 things?

When we have a list of three or more items, we use a comma to split the items in the list. This comma is known as a listing comma, e.g. I like rice, beans, and plantains. Listing commas can usually be replaced by “and” or “or,” e.g. I like rice and beans and plantains.

How do you list more than 3 things in a sentence?

Whenever you have three or more items in a series, each item requires punctuation to separate it from the others. Depending on the complexity of the list, you can use either commas or semicolons.

How do you use commas with multiple things?

Rule 1. Use commas to separate words and word groups in a simple series of three or more items. Example: My estate goes to my husband, son, daughter-in-law, and nephew. Note: When the last comma in a series comes before and or or (after daughter-in-law in the above example), it is known as the Oxford comma.

Should I put a comma after the last item in a list?

Do not place a comma after the last item in the list (see fourth example below) unless the structure of the sentence otherwise requires it (see third example below, in which the comma after audience is required to separate an introductory dependent clause from the main clause).

How do you write a list in a sentence example?

For example, if I told you I have a cat, a dog, and a bird as pets, I just created a list within the natural flow of the sentence. If you are listing simple items, as above, separate each item with a comma. You should use “and” or “or” just before the last item to indicate the conclusion of the list.

How do you list things in a sentence examples?

In-sentence lists

1. Use a colon to introduce the list items only if a complete sentence precedes the list.
2. Use both opening and closing parentheses on the list item numbers or letters: (a) item, (b) item, etc.
3. Use either regular Arabic numbers or lowercase letters within the parentheses, but use them consistently.

How do you list three things in a sentence?

The Oxford Comma is a comma used when there are three or more list items.

How do you grammatically list things?

Use lowercase for the text of in-sentence lists items, except when regular capitalization rules require caps. ○ Punctuate the in-sentence list items with commas if they are not complete sentences; with semicolons, if they are complete sentences. ○ Use the same spacing for in-sentence lists as in regular non-list text.

How do you use commas in a list?

When writing a list, you should put a comma between each item, except for the last item where you use ‘and’. For example: “I need to go to the supermarket to buy eggs, milk, bread, sugar and orange juice.”

What is the correct punctuation for a list?

There are three punctuation marks involved in making a list in a sentence: the comma, colon, and semicolon. Which you use depends on how complex your list is. If you are writing a simple list, you can just insert a comma after each item.

When you have three or more items in a series the final comma before the conjunction and/or nor is?

In English-language punctuation, a serial comma (also called a series comma, Oxford comma, or Harvard comma) is a comma placed immediately after the penultimate term (i.e., before the coordinating conjunction, such as and or or) in a series of three or more terms.