We
often use a comma to separate elements in a series (three or more things). We
tend to think that the comma before the coordinating conjunction “and” is not
needed. However, there are cases in which we need to place a comma before “and”.
Otherwise, the last two items of a list will glom together and change the
meaning of a sentence as it happens in the following one:
Curiosity for sex,
rejection in love and loneliness, some of the dilemmas that come along
with the girls’ relationship.
If
a comma is not placed before the coordinator “and”, the phrase will be read as
if the rejection happens both in love and in loneliness. This will leave the
list with just two items. Therefore, a comma is necessary to clarify the
intended meaning of the sentence:
Curiosity for sex, rejection in love, and loneliness, are some of the dilemmas that come along with the girls’
relationship.
It is the Oxford comma, isn't it!? You are right, we tend to avoid the comma before the "and" at the end of a list. We should always put the comma, even when there is no danger of changing the meaning of the sentence. At least commas are still free.
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