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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

When do I use a comma and when do I use a semi-colon when reffering to a list of things?

Hi

I would appreciate it if someone could clarify to me when I am suppose to use a comma/semi-colon when refferring to a list of things? As far as my understanding of the matter goes, one uses a comma when the list only consists of words, not phrases. Is this correct?

Many thanks! Emotion: smile
  

Top answer

No, not exactly. This is OK: I bought a bag of beans, a can of coffee, and a sack of potatoes. Semicolons are used only when the items of the list have internal commas already : I have lived in Reno, Nevada; Houston, Texas; and San Francisco, California .

— Mister Micawber

  • No, not exactly.
  • This is OK: I bought a bag of beans, a can of coffee, and a sack of potatoes.
  • Semicolons are used only when the items of the list have internal commas already : I have lived in Reno, Nevada; Houston, Texas; and San Francisco, California .
  • However I will comment that the form with internal commas and dividing semicolons usually looks quite clunky and should be avoided if possible.
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1 Answers
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No, not exactly. This is OK:

I bought a bag of beans, a can of coffee, and a sack of potatoes.

Semicolons are used only when the items of the list have internal commas already:

I have lived in Reno, Nevada; Houston, Texas; and San Francisco, California.

However I will comment that the form with internal commas and dividing semicolons usuall
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