Why do we use "and" between the last two items in a series, as in "This morning I ate eggs, toast, and bacon"? Why not just say, "This morning I ate eggs, toast, bacon"?

asked 2017-03-02 12:29:38 -0400

Karen
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updated 2017-03-02 12:37:32 -0400

ksteimel
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I am a community college English composition instructor. One of my students asked me this question, and I couldn't provide an answer. I would like to be able to give him an answer, and now I am curious myself. Please help!

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answered 2017-03-09 13:09:48 -0400

Rafael
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The same thing happens in many languages (in Spanish, too): Without "and", series is open / with "and", series is closed. In addition, the entonation is different.

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Asked: 2017-03-02 12:29:38 -0400

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Why do we use "and" between the last two items in a series, as in "This morning I ate eggs, toast, and bacon"? Why not just say, "This morning I ate eggs, toast, bacon"? edit

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Why do we use "and" between the last two items in a series, as in "This morning I ate eggs, toast, and bacon"? Why not just say, "This morning I ate eggs, toast, bacon"?