making a list

Question

Please let me know what I should be aware of when I am making a list? Should I make them article-free or article them up? What are some possible factors that I need to consider when I am deciding on the previous  choice? Sorry if my question is very broad.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

Please let me know what I should be aware of when I am making a list? Should I make them article-free or article them up? What are some possible factors that I need to consider when I am deciding on the previous choice? Sorry if my question is very broad.

Very generally, there are considerations about articles when you refer to one thing. These same considerations apply when you refer to a list of things.

eg I need to buy a chair, a table and a desk.

eg I'm rearranging my office. I'm going to move the chair, the table and the desk.

eg I need to buy bread, flour and sugar.

However, you can choose to omit the repetition of articles in a list.

Best wishes, Clive

Believer · Answer

Thank you.

So if I want to make one of your sentences into a list form, can you do like this?

Your sentence: eg I need to buy a chair, a table and a desk

1. You need to buy the following: chair, table and desk.

2. You need to buy chair, table and desk.

3. List of things to buy:

Chair,

Table,

Desk

Clive · Answer

Hi,

So if I want to make one of your sentences into a list form, can you do like this?

Your sentence: eg I need to buy a chair, a table and a desk<<< In grammatical terms, this sentence is often referred to as 'a list'.

1. You need to buy the following: a chair, (a) table and (a) desk. You need article(s) because these are countable nouns.

2. You need to buy chair, table and desk. Add articles.

3. List of things to buy: a list of this type does not have to follow any grammatical rules

Chair,

Table,

Desk

Best wishes, Clive

BarbaraPA · Answer

Clive.

3. List of things to buy: a list of this type does not have to follow any grammatical rules

Chair,

Table,

Desk

I'd like to add that although this type of list doesn't have to follow the rules of grammar, STYLE guides will address these types of list. The most important rule is to be consistent within a list. Either give them all articles, or give none of them articles (preferable to leave them out). Give all of them end punctuation, or give none of them end punctuation (preferable to omit).

(As I've said on other posts, since coming here, I have realized I'm not a grammar geek at all -- but I am a bit of a style guide geek, for the common U.S. ones, at least.)

making a list

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