Do you use a colon or semicolon for a list?

Do you use a colon or semicolon for a list?

Semicolons separate items within a list, while a colon precedes and introduces a list. He took three things on the hike; his lunch, his binoculars, and his trusty walking stick.

What punctuation do I use before a list?

Use a colon before a list when the list is preceded by a complete independent clause. Never use a colon to separate a preposition from its objects or a verb from its complements.

When to use a colon in a sentence with a list?

Colon

• Introducing a list. The colon is used to introduce a list of items.
• Between independent clauses when the second explains or illustrates the first. The colon is used to separate two independent clauses when the second explains or illustrates the first.
• Emphasis.

How do you punctuate a list in a list?

Punctuation is used to separate the items in the list. The usual way of doing this is to place a comma after each item in the list: The school has a vegetable garden in which the children grow cabbages, onions, potatoes, and carrots. The last item in a list is often preceded by the words and or or.

What does a semicolon mean in a list?

Semicolons can be used to separate parts of a sentence. They can also separate two main clauses or grouped items in a list. Semicolons can also help to simplify lists by showing which items are grouped together.

How do you use a colon in a list examples?

Use a colon to introduce an item or list, if the list comes after a complete sentence or independent clause. For example: There are three things every dog needs: food, water and healthcare. You need to grab these three things for the laundry: laundry detergent, fabric softener and dryer sheets.

What goes at the beginning of a list?

Use a colon to introduce a bulleted or numbered list. The colon comes right before the bulleted list as you can see in this example. Capitalization and ending punctuation are optional for single words or short phrases in bullet points or numbered lists.

Can you use semicolons in a list?

A semicolon is most commonly used to link (in a single sentence) two independent clauses that are closely related in thought. Use a semicolon between items in a list or series if any of the items contain commas.

How do you use a semicolon in a list examples?

This time, the list items themselves contain commas. It is now appropriate to use semicolons as separators to outrank those commas. For example: I have been to Newcastle, Carlisle, and York in the North; Bristol, Exeter, and Portsmouth in the South; and Cromer, Norwich, and Lincoln in the East.

When to use a semi colon in a sentence?

Semicolons can be used to separate parts of a sentence. They can also separate two main clauses or grouped items in a list. Semicolons can also help to simplify lists by showing which items are grouped together. Click to see a step-by-step slideshow.

Why do you use semicolons in a list?

They can also separate two main clauses or grouped items in a list. Semicolons can also help to simplify lists by showing which items are grouped together. Click to see a step-by-step slideshow. STEP 1 – Start writing your list. Start it with a phrase and a colon to introduce the list. STEP 2 – Write the first band member.

When do you put a colon in a list?

The colon after the complete sentence and prior to your “list” is correct. We see no need for semicolons. Inserting colons into the list items seems unnecessary since you are emphasizing the centers over the people.

When to use a comma or a colon in a list?

Colons can introduce a list, while commas are used to separate items in a list.