When a comma is needed after "and":
* In a series of three or more items:
* Example: "I bought apples, oranges, and bananas."
* To separate two independent clauses:
* Example: "The sun was shining, and the birds were singing."
When a comma is NOT needed after "and":
* When "and" joins two words or phrases that are not independent clauses:
* Example: "I went to the store and bought milk."
* When "and" joins two words that act as a single unit:
* Example: "Black and white"
Remember: The key is to look for independent clauses (clauses that could stand alone as a sentence) and to ensure you're not using a comma to separate items in a simple list.
Let me know if you'd like more examples!