Dear Dr. GoodWrite:

What is the best typeface to use in my e-mails?

Wendy L. - New York, NY

Dear Wendy:

I recommend Times New Roman, 12 pt. size, in black. It's a universal favorite that is easy to read and professional-looking. Other popular choices are Arial, Verdana, and Calibri -- again, in 12 pt. size and black.

Avoid exotic typefaces, fancy colors, and small point sizes, which make it difficult for people to read your message.

Dear Dr. GoodWrite:

I’m confused about commas. I like to use a comma before the last “and” in a list of three items, but a colleague doesn’t think I should.

Mark S. - Carlsbad, CA

Dear Mark:

The Chicago Manual of Style is against using a comma after the “and.”
However, Strunk & White's Elements of Style is for it.

Dr. GoodWrite sides with S&W.

In business communications, you often need to string together a number of compound phrases. For example:

I am recommending that we increase our budgets in all three departments: finance and accounting, research and development, and sales and marketing.

In cases like these, a comma after “and” can be essential to the reader's understanding.

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