Let's delve into the compound "and" vs. the "and" between two clauses...
Writers get these two ideas confused, and it makes for odd comma use. In the preceding sentence, I just illustrated the use of the "and" between two clauses. Note that there is a comma before the "and." The "and" between two clauses makes no judgment about the relative importance between one clause and another but links them together in the same sentence. In such a case, a comma is used before the "and," but when there is only one clause in a sentence and a phrase that follows the "and" there is no comma.
Be sure to use a comma before "and" between two clauses and not between a clause and a phrase that modifies the clause. Note, here, that the preceding sentence contains a clause and a phrase, linked by and. This is the compound "and", which does not take a comma. This is one of the most frequent misuses of a comma by writers. Here's another kind of compound that links two predicates in the same sentence:
I purchased a bread maker with a credit card and paid for the flour with cash. This sentence has two predicates, each containing a verb, but there is only one subject of the sentence, one clause.
Purchased is the first verb and paid is the second verb. They do not need a comma before and. In fact, it confuses the intent of the sentence to divide a compound predicate with a comma.
Now, let's give passing attention to three or more predicates in the same sentence.
If there were three verbs in the clause, we would fall back on the "rule" for using commas between each item in a list and a comma before the "serial and" or the "Oxford comma."
At least those using The Chicago Manual of Style would, whereas those using The Associated Press Style Guide would not use the comma before the "serial and." Nonetheless, when there are three or more verbs in the same sentence, all hung on one subject-noun/pronoun doing the action, we use commas between each verb construct.
While most book publishers use The Chicago Manual of Style and the "serial and" with a comma, most newspaper and magazine publishers use The Associated Press Style Guide and do not use the comma before the "serial and."
Confused? Don't be. Just be aware that if you're writing a book, use the comma before the "serial and" when there are at least three items in the list.
I purchased a bread maker with a credit card, paid for the flour with cash, and dropped the change into the charity jar on the counter.
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