Can you put a comma before the word and?

The rule of thumb is that you do not put a comma before the word "and" unless it is used to separate two independent clauses (complete sentences).

Here are some examples:

No comma needed:

* I like apples and oranges.

* She went to the store and bought groceries.

Comma needed:

* I went to the park, and I saw a dog playing fetch.

In this case, "I went to the park" and "I saw a dog playing fetch" are both complete sentences, so a comma is necessary before "and" to separate them.

Let me know if you have any other questions!