does the comma go before or after and

The comma goes before "and" when it is used to connect two independent clauses, meaning clauses that can stand alone as complete sentences. If "and" is connecting two verbs with the same subject or connecting just two items in a list, a comma should not be placed before "and." Commas after "and" are only used when followed by an interrupter (non-essential information). Additionally, a comma before "and" is often used as the Oxford comma in a list of three or more items, though its use there is optional depending on the style guide.