What type of punctuation marks need to be used when introducing a list of items and the list of items then contains the word and?

1 answer

When introducing a list of items that contains the word "and," you typically use a colon (:) before the list. This helps to signal that what follows will be a series of items.

Here's an example:

Correct: We need to buy several items for the picnic: sandwiches, fruit, chips, and drinks.

In this example, a colon introduces the list, and the list includes the word "and" to connect the last two items.

If the introductory phrase is part of a complete sentence that does not lead directly into the list, a comma can also be used. For instance:

Example: Please bring the following items, which we will need: sandwiches, fruit, chips, and drinks.

In summary, use a colon before the list and include "and" as needed within the list.