Which sentence correctly uses a colon to introduce a list?

Which sentence correctly uses a colon to introduce a list?

• A. She bought the following items, apples, oranges, and bananas.
• B. She bought the following items: apples, oranges, and bananas.
• C. She bought the following items; apples, oranges, and bananas.
• D. She bought the following items apples, oranges, and bananas.

Answer: (B)

A colon is used to introduce a list when the preceding part is a complete sentence. In this sentence, “She bought the following items” stands on its own, and it signals that a list will follow. The list is properly introduced after the colon and the items are separated by commas with the final item preceded by “and.” That makes the sentence clear and correctly punctuated: she bought the following items: apples, oranges, and bananas. The other options misplace punctuation: a comma after the introductory phrase doesn’t signal a list; a semicolon is used to separate independent clauses, not to introduce a list; and omitting punctuation altogether leaves the sentence unclear and grammatically off.

A colon is used to introduce a list when the preceding part is a complete sentence. In this sentence, “She bought the following items” stands on its own, and it signals that a list will follow.

The list is properly introduced after the colon and the items are separated by commas with the final item preceded by “and.” That makes the sentence clear and correctly punctuated: she bought the following items: apples, oranges, and bananas.

The other options misplace punctuation: a comma after the introductory phrase doesn’t signal a list; a semicolon is used to separate independent clauses, not to introduce a list; and omitting punctuation altogether leaves the sentence unclear and grammatically off.