We all know what a list is: to-do lists, grocery lists, Christmas gift lists . . .

And usually we think of lists as being vertical like this:

1.

2.

3.

But lists can also be horizontal.

Horizontal Lists

A horizontal list needs a colon if it has an introductory phrase, but it doesn’t need a colon when the list reads as a sentence. These two lists are both correct:

I need these these items at the grocery store: bread, sugar, olive oil, apples, and milk.

The groceries I need are bread, sugar, olive oil, apples, and milk.

Of course that comma before the and is optional, but I prefer to use it. 

 

Vertical Lists

Much of the time, a vertical list has a colon at the end of the introduction. However, much like in horizontal lists, if each list item completes the sentence started by the introduction, no comma is needed. In fact, there shouldn’t be a comma there. These lists are all correct:

Please bring these items on the first day of school:

• pencils
• pens
• a small stapler
• a three ring binder

On the first day of school, please bring

• pencils,
• pens,
• small stapler, and
• three-ring binder.

On the first day of school, please bring

• pencils
• pens
• small stapler
• three-ring binder

Here are some more suggestions for writing lists:

*You do not need to capitalize your list items unless they are complete sentences.

*Do not put a period after list items unless they are complete sentences.

*If one of your list items is a complete sentence, they all should be complete sentences.

*You can use bullets, you can simply indent, or you can number your list items. Usually you number if the order of the items is important (such as steps) or if you are emphasizing the fact that there are a certain number of items in the list. For example,

There are three reasons why you should stay home and do your homework:

1.

2.

3.

*Make sure your list items are parallel, that is, all structured the same way grammatically. Here is a list that is not parallel:

We need to discuss the  following items:

• Running the meetings
• Hiring the speakers
• How long will each meeting last?
• Assigning tasks for each member

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Guest writers who would like to write a post for this blog – something readers like you are interested in

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Ideas for future blog posts

Thank you!

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