Use a serial comma (also called an Oxford comma, Harvard comma, or series comma) between elements in a series of three or more items.

Factors of personality include extraversion, conscientiousness, openness to experience, agreeableness, and neuroticism.

If one or more items in the series already contain a comma, use semicolons between the items instead of commas.

Subjective well-being is characterized by the presence of positive affect, such as whether people feel happy and peaceful; the absence of negative affect, such as whether people feel angry or bored; and a high level of life satisfaction.

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Commas are covered in the seventh edition APA Style manuals in the Publication Manual Section 6.3 and the Concise Guide Section 4.3

Date created: 2019