I have seen it both ways but the comma seems redundant in the first example. I prefer your second example.

The first is an example of the Oxford comma.

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/words/what-is-the-oxford-comma

apples, oranges, and pears. I've seen it both ways, too, but was taught the first way and that's the way I use it.

Either way is correct. Consistency is what matters. I've always preferred the last series comma myself.

I was taught that either way is acceptable, as long as when you're writing a paragraph or research paper or essay you are consistent in the form that you choose.

I was taught to put no comma after oranges ... but that was a long time ago.
I've been thinking that the modern way was to shorten things where possible (including attention span).
o j

Interesting about the Oxford comma. In the example shown, you can see how the comma would be helpful. Thanks everyone. This is as I suspected, but always wondered what current thinking is.

Like oj, I was taught not to put a comma after a word before and. So oranges would not have a comma.

I was taught to take a bite of each before the punctuation got in the way!

I think both are correct but I think of the comma as a pause and, therefore, prefer the first example because you are naming three different things. The second example to me reads like you are naming two things.....apples......oranges and pears.

I was on the cusp. I was first taught not to add the extra comma, but by the time I graduated-to use the comma. At work? I use as few of them as possible. There are many projects which require specific punctuation (brackets [ ] within parentheses, or lack of commas in number 1 235 - as examples); with most journals in their preferred format. I copy those. On most occasions though, the fewer, the better.

In the AP stylebook (which is at hand on my desk), they differentiate between a simple series and a complex series of phrases. No comma before the conjunction for the fruit. Yes comma if there's an "and" in a member of the series: We had milk, carrots, and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Phrases: We have to hit the fruit stand for the apples, catch Carl before he closes for the PB&Js, and borrow a cooler from Dottie for the milk.

I, personally, know so many conflicting rules for commas that I just do whatever looks pretty in casual or personal writing. Otherwise, I try to be consistent with American rules (lots of commas) or English rules (no extra commas), or pull out the MLA stylebook if it really matters. :) I have the AP because it was the style used in a newsletter I used to edit, but I also rather like it because it's basically American, but sparser on commas.

LOL, Jim!

Crossposted with Rob--agreed! Or as one guy quipped, "Sprinkle commas like pepper, not like salt!"

I was taught that either is correct. Since the comma before and often helps clarify, my teacher suggested we always use it.

I was taught the latter, and writing scripts for broadcasting it was mandatory to do it that way or it would be problematic for the broadcaster. If I had that punctuation in a script I would read, I would have to edit it. However, watching and listening to the nearly illiterate broadcasters on the air these days, seems like so many can barely read or speak.

As to the Oxford example of the multiple "ands", I agree with plllog. That should be punctuated differently altogether, IMO. It's a very clumsy sentence structure as they have it.

Although this is off-topic regarding the proper use of commas, this is on-topic regarding grammar, so -- what the heck, here it is... It's been going around on Facebook:

It's a shame that this list didn't include it's and its counterpart its. :-)

IT'S --- IT IS or IT HAS

ITS --- BELONGS TO IT

Though I see an enormous excess of commas being used in much of what I read, separating the items in a series is one example where the comma seems very appropriate. I always add that last comma.

I have always used the Oxford comma, for clarification purposes.

I am "old school" and that extra comma....kinda halts/ pauses my thinking. But then, I have probably forgotten most of what I learned in Business English. (yes, my old school had seperate as well as regular English for secretarial training.)

I prefer the extra comma: Apples, oranges, and pears. I know that the second comma can be omitted, however, it may be transmitting a nuance of meaning. Here's why: Suppose there were a box of oranges and second box that held a mix of apples and pears, then it would be appropriate to refer to these as "oranges, apples and pears". (awkward, huh?) Someone might argue that it should be "oranges, and apples and pears. If there were 3 boxes, each containing a different fruit, then the extra comma comes into play: oranges, apples, and pears.

Lindsey_CA, it's = it has?? Are you sure?? I never read anywhere that used it's as it has.

As for using a comma, I was taught that it all depends on the meaning.

I'm not Lindsey, but yes, it's is used for "it has", mostly when "it" is a dummy pronoun with the present perfect tense.

It's been a long time since I saw him.
It has been a long time since I saw him.

In the end, I didn't shoot my m-i-l, but it's taken a heck of an effort to get her to like me.
In the end, I didn't shoot my m-i-l, but it has taken a heck of an effort to get her to like me.

Exactly right, plllog.

Lindsey, that meme you posted in one of my pet peeves on Facebook. People post that on Facebook that don't even know what is correct. To me it says "I'm so smart, you need to get this right if you are going to post on Facebook". Every time I see someone post this meme, I will always see them misuse the word "your" or "there". HA! This meme got me in trouble when grammar policeman posted this and the next day said "your" when it was supposed to be "you're" so I HAD to let them know, right? HA! My bad! It just rubs me the wrong way!

Although, I've gone most of my school years in the US, I've certainly missed out on this lesson. You've all opened up my knowledge today. I don't visit KT often but I'm glad I did so this time.

Thank you all for the beneficial English lesson. I hope there would be more opportunities like this which would give me reason to visit KT more often :)

A long time ago, in a land far away (Santa Fe, NM), I worked at the local daily newspaper. One of my responsibilities was the proofing of obits. Our supervisor was insistent on doing it her way. When listing more than three surviving people, we used a colon at the beginning of the list and a semi-colon to separate each person's name. Most of those listings had many survivors and it was arduous to follow through Laura's way!

Jim, in a land thousands of miles father away, I did some typing for someone from equally far away--South Africa. She used a semi-colon for every simple series. I found it nigh on impossible to type with any rhythm that way! Death to semi-colons!

Seeing this query reminded me of this oldie but goodie.

Punctuation is Powerful

An English professor wrote the words…”a woman without her
man is nothing”

…on the whiteboard and asked his students to punctuate it
correctly.

All of the males in the class wrote: “A woman, without her man, is nothing.”

All the females in the class wrote: “A woman:
without her, man is nothing.”

Punctuation is powerful.

And I always use the comma before and unless I mean: figs and grapes together.

Walnut, this reminds me of the popular book Eats, Shoots & Leaves.

http://www.amazon.com/Eats-Shoots-Leaves-Tolerance-Punctuation/dp/1592402038/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1433635557&sr=8-1&keywords=eats+shoots+and+leaves