Correct use of the comma.

Alright, Southperry is full of literate people, like Aaron, rite?
So here's a srs grammar question that I always contemplate against when listing items with commas.

Here are two sentences to give an example:

[SIZE="3"]I drove down to the drug store and bought milk, a magazine and gum.

I drove down to the drug store and bought milk, a magazine, and gum.[/SIZE]

Which one is considered grammatically correct?

Now, for years I've always seperated the last item with a comma. Last night, my mom and dad were reading over an essay that I left on the counter to take to school tomorrow. They teased me for making a grammar error on the second sentence, and I couldn't believe I missed it. I took the paper and read the sentence over and over and couldn't find anything wrong. Both of my parents agreed that the last item, when listing with commas, should NOT be seperated with a comma. Apparently, this is how they were taught in school back in the day. I asked my english teacher while I was at school today and she couldn't give me a definite answer.

There is no right answer. Both forms are acceptable. The last item in a list may or may not have a comma, it's up to the writer.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_comma

I only know this because it's a style issue with wikis and you have to try to keep it the same way throughout the page.

The first = the one and only truly correct one.

The first one is the popular and "more" correct one. Over the years, the first has become much more dominant. I remember throughout Elementary school, I was taught the second way. However, by the time I was in High school, I began seeing the first method everywhere - and I promptly adopted it.

Though, like Isaac said, either is grammatically correct.

From my personal observations (mainly of my professors), I've noticed that all of the older ones use the second method, while the younger ones tend to use the first. Sign of the times, perhaps? It's weird that your parents have it backwards.

My teacher told me a story about this.

A rich guy died and left $1,000,000 for his three sons, Bob, John, and Frank. In his will, it said something to the extent of "the 1 million dollars I own is to be distributed between Bob, John and Frank". They distributed the money so that each got $333k. But Bob claimed this was not what the will said. They took the case to court and the court ruled in Bob's favor. Distributing $333k to the three sons was NOT what the will said. So how it was distributed was that Bob got 500k, and John got 250k, and Frank got 250k.

The reason was the comma was between Bob and Frank but there was no comma between Frank and John. Thus, the comma separates Bob from John-and-Frank and so John-and-Frank was counted as one unit. The money gets distributed 50-50; half goes to Bob and half goes to John and Frank. IF there was a comma between John and Frank, then it would've been 333k each.

After that story, I use always use commas even when I have "and" lol.

^ What they said, but I personally think that rule is complete bs, so I follow the second standard, and no one really complains when you go to an engineering school.

@butterfli: Wow, Bob's an ass.

Ya Bob's an ass, but I always put the comma as well.

My teachers always told me that putting the comma there was more of a European English thing, and that Americans don't do that much. It seems more natural to me to put the comma because a comma symbolizes a pause, etc..

My teachers always told me that putting the comma there was more of a European English thing, and that Americans don't do that much. It seems more natural to me to put the comma because a comma symbolizes a pause, etc..

Is that a bad thing? lol

I myself only follow the rule everyone should do: place comma where you feel it. I feel it a little unnecessary to put it in front of and and or, but I don't think it's wrong.

Is that a bad thing? lol

I myself only follow the rule everyone should do: place comma where you feel it. I feel it a little unnecessary to put it in front of and and or, but I don't think it's wrong.

You'll get marked down for comma splices if you do that in university writing.

Anyway, I was taught that the first form is American and the second form (the form I use) is Commonwealth.

It is completely acceptable to list items with a comma before the and. The only true exception is when it is a pair.
ex:
I went to the bar with John, (and) Bob and Margret.
Bob and Margret are a pair, and are listed together, thus you cannot separate their "and" with a comma, and you should put another "and" before them, though I don't think it's absolutely necessary.
Maybe it is different for American standards. (i.e. lazy standards)

Just to be an ass, Greg, you spelled "separated" wrong.

Anyway, I always use the second rule.

You'll get marked down for comma splices if you do that in university writing.

Anyway, I was taught that the first form is American and the second form (the form I use) is Commonwealth.

So you're not allowed to use British/CW, but have to use American?

I kind of use both...

If it's a simple list like "Bob, John and Frank", then I'll forego the extra comma.

In a more convoluted list like "I have to figure out a way to maximize my revenues while minimizing costs at the old lemonade stand, dance the funky chicken in the middle of the town square at high noon, and move with my auntie and uncle in Bel-Air to escape neighbourhood bullies that have been tormenting me", I'll put the extra comma in. I find that it helps with comprehension and it also allows the reader a pause to regain their breath, if needed.

... and no, I haven't done any of those things.

In a more convoluted list like "I have to figure out a way to maximize my revenues while minimizing costs at the old lemonade stand, dance the funky chicken in the middle of the town square at high noon, and move with my auntie and uncle in Bel-Air to escape neighbourhood bullies that have been tormenting me", I'll put the extra comma in. I find that it helps with comprehension and it also allows the reader a pause to regain their breath, if needed.

That is one horribly long sentence, but I agree that the comma should be there in this case. I'd rather split up that sentence into 3 sentences though.

So you're not allowed to use British/CW, but have to use American?

They accept either, I'm referring to the part of your post "I myself only follow the rule everyone should do: place comma where you feel it."

I've always been taught that the second one was correct. I've never been told different. Oh, and I live in the United States.

They accept either, I'm referring to the part of your post "I myself only follow the rule everyone should do: place comma where you feel it."

Well, I myself feel that it's obvious where you can, should, and must put commas.

I'm not talking from a English-speaking-oriented point of view, though.

Both of Greg's original examples are correct. The use of comma between the last two words is optional to the best of my knowledge.

The first rule of English when you start getting advanced is that most rules are meant to be broken. Ernest Hemingway wrote in short choppy sentences. e e cummings did not capitalize. To cite another example, typing a sentence in all caps is typically considered bad form, but if you're writing a long fictitious piece and are trying to describe a giant or dragon talking, making their sentences in all caps may convey to the reader the intensity and volume of the voice in question. A long run on sentence is also typically considered bad form, but if you're describing a hyperactive person ranting for three minutes, it may be a good decision, because it more accurately describes what is happening than splitting the speech. Judgment is more important than thinking by the box. Comma use is no different. There are times when by convention you should use a comma, but it's more effective not to. Among other things, I do it in stream-of-consciousness situations where my character's speech is an outburst rather than planned.

[SIZE="2"]I'm used to using the first form of the sentence, it's just a reflex.[/SIZE]

The first form is accepted by the Associated Press, so it's used in print journalism and most informal or semi-formal writing.

The second is the one I was taught in elementary school, and I see it more often in formal or older writing.

I use the second form more often, but I think that's just because I'm in love with the comma. Also, like butterfli's situation with the will, it can sometimes be confusing if you don't separate the last two.

Side note: I hate when the last two things are really a pair, so I say "John, and Bob and Margaret", and my teachers mark off because "it's one series". It's not, you dolt. T_T