When you write out a list such as - We bought oranges, apples, bananas and grapes. I was taught when young?

Question

that I didn't need a comma before the 'and'. But most people do now. My question is - is this a new thing or an American verses British thing?

Answer 1

Wikipedia says:

"A comma before the final and, or, or nor in a list of more than two things is called a serial comma or an Oxford comma:
We had milk, biscuits, and cream.
It is called the Oxford comma because the style guide of the Oxford University Press is one of its prominent advocates.
Although the Oxford comma is not always used, it should be applied to avoid ambiguity. Omitting the Oxford comma changes the meaning of a sentence, and unless the author is aware of the possible meaning the comma should be included rather than omitted.
I spoke to the boys, Sam and Tom. — The boys refers to Sam and Tom.
I spoke to the boys, Sam, and Tom. — The boys, Sam, and Tom are separate units; thus, four or more people were spoken to in all.
I spoke to x, y and z. This sentence is stating that y and z are what comprise x.
I spoke to x, y, and z. This sentence is stating that x, y, and z were all spoken to and that they are different entities. "

Though I think there is less confusion with more than three items.

Answer 2

The "series comma" used to be there all the time, but newspapers back before WWII decided that they needed more space for their articles, so they let this comma slip out of sentences. Because people started seeing this in newspapers, they thought it was a new rule, so they started doing it too. But now, people are realizing that it wasn't really a rule, it was just a convention.

I like the comma, but that's just me.

Answer 3

This is called the Oxford comma, and today children are taught to use it even though we were taught not to as youngsters. I also was really surprised to find this had changed.

Answer 4

There should be a comma before 'and'. This seems to be a new thing, and it drives me crazy! Without the comma, it reads as though the bananas and grapes are one item, like Abbott and Costello. AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!

Answer 5

Its stupid whatever it is....
but I have a feeling it has to do with that anal retentive book "Eats, Shoots and Leaves"

I would never assume bananas and grapes are one item.
And by itself implies there are two!

Answer 6

I'm a Canadian and I've never done it that way in my life. I sometimes write "We bought: blah" but never "banannas and: grapes"