Rule 1: Use a Colon to Introduce an Item or List. 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.
Contents
What punctuation is used before a list?
colon
Introducing a list. The colon is used to introduce a list of items.
How do you introduce a list?
In-sentence lists
- Use a colon to introduce the list items only if a complete sentence precedes the list.
- Use both opening and closing parentheses on the list item numbers or letters: (a) item, (b) item, etc.
- Use either regular Arabic numbers or lowercase letters within the parentheses, but use them consistently.
Do I use a colon before a list?
Use a colon before a series or list only if the words that introduce the list make up a complete sentence: To make a cake you need a few basic ingredients: butter, sugar, eggs, milk, flour, leavener, and salt.
Do you use are or is before a list?
When I use “there are:” (with a colon) to introduce a list starting with a singular item, should I use “there is” or “there are”? According to grammar rules, I should use “there is” if the following item is singular, but in this case the colon introduces a plural group.
Can I use semicolons in a list?
Semicolons can be used to link items in a list, such as objects, locations, names and descriptions. Where the list items already contain commas, a semicolon helps avoid confusion between the items; in this way the semicolon acts like a ‘super comma’.
How do you write a list?
Simple Horizontal Lists
If you are listing simple items, as above, separate each item with a comma. You should use “and” or “or” just before the last item to indicate the conclusion of the list. “And” is inclusive and means all of the items mentioned apply, whereas “or” indicates that only one of the items is relevant.
How do you start a list in an essay?
How to Write a List in an Essay
- Introduce the list with an independent clause or a sentence with a colon before the list.
- Set off a short list from the rest of a sentence with a dash, an informal punctuation mark that also often marks a sudden or dramatic change.
- Write an introductory sentence for steps in a sequence.
How do you write a list after a colon?
When listing items one by one, one per line, following a colon, capitalization and ending punctuation are optional when using single words or phrases preceded by letters, numbers, or bullet points. If each point is a complete sentence, capitalize the first word and end the sentence with appropriate ending punctuation.
How do you use a colon UK?
A colon is nearly always preceded by a complete sentence; what follows the colon may or may not be a complete sentence, and it may be a mere list or even a single word. A colon is not normally followed by a capital letter in British usage, though American usage often prefers to use a capital.
What is a colon example?
A colon can be used to introduce a list.For example, “Here’s a list of groceries I need: a loaf of bread, a quart of milk, and a stick of butter.” The words preceding the colon stand as a complete, grammatically correct sentence.
How do you list things in a paragraph?
If you are including a simple, relatively short list of three to five items within a paragraph —also known as a series—the proper formatting is to: (a) precede the list with a comma, (b) label each item with a lowercase letter enclosed in parentheses, and (c) separate each item with commas or semicolons.
How do you list names in a sentence?
There are three punctuation marks involved in making a list in a sentence: the comma, colon, and semicolon. Which you use depends on how complex your list is. If you are writing a simple list, you can just insert a comma after each item.
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 words are clauses?
A clause is a group of words with a subject-verb unit; the 2nd group of words contains the subject-verb unit the bus goes, so it is a clause. A phrase is a group of words without a subject-verb unit.
When listing Do you use a comma or semicolon?
Usually, we use a comma to separate three items or more in a list. However, if one or more of these items contain commas, then you should use a semicolon, instead of a comma, to separate the items and avoid potential confusion.
What are the items in a list called?
A list is an ordered collection of values. The values that make up a list are called its elements, or its items. We will use the term element or item to mean the same thing.
Do you put a comma before and in a list?
There’s no single rule that applies to all situations. You usually put a comma before and when it’s connecting two independent clauses. It’s almost always optional to put a comma before and in a list.
How do you write a top 10 list?
Here are 10 tips on how to write a good list.
- Choose the Right Topic and Tone.
- Write Great Headlines and Subheadlines.
- Be Bold With Your Formatting.
- Organizing Your Top 10 List.
- Don’t Makes Lists Within Your List.
- Make Sure Your List is the Start of Your Article.
- Use Images.
- Be Consistent.
What are some good sentence starters?
Good sentence starters for sequences or lists
- First . . ., Second . . ., Third . . ., etc.
- Next . . .
- Then . . .
- Subsequently . . .
- After that . . .
- Afterwards . . .
- Eventually . . .
- Later . . .
What can I use instead of Firstly Secondly Thirdly?
Elswehere,… In addition…. Furthermore,…. Moreover,…..
- “One example is….”
- “Another pertinent point…”
- “Finally…”