Student's guide to writing college papers, Fourth edition - Kate L. Turabian 2010

Series and lists
Punctuation
Style

22.6.1 Summary

Two Coordinated Elements

1. Never use a comma to separate two coordinated words.

2. Use a comma to separate coordinated phrases or clauses only if readers might be confused about where one ends and the next begins.

Series of Three or More

1. Use commas after each item and a conjunction before the last.

2. Use semicolons instead of commas for long and complex items.

Run-in Lists

1. Put a colon or (to be informal or stylish) a dash before the list.

2. Punctuate the list as a series; do not capitalize the first word.

3. Never end the introducing clause with a verb.

Vertical Lists

1. Put a colon or period (but not a dash) at the end of a complete introductory clause; use no punctuation after an introductory subject or subject-verb.

2. If the items are complete sentences, capitalize the first word and use terminal punctuation at the end.

3. If the items are not complete sentences, omit terminal punctuation, even for the last item, and do not capitalize the first word.

22.6.2 Two Coordinated Elements

In most cases you should not put a comma between two coordinated words, phrases, or subordinate clauses. But you can add a comma if readers might be confused, which can happen when two phrases or clauses are long and complex or when the conjunction includes a confusing combination of words, such as several ands near one another.

1. Never put a comma between two words connected by a coordinate conjunction.

NOT: the dogs, and cats ran I saw John, and Sally we ate, but didn't drink

BUT: the dogs and cats ran I saw John and Sally we ate but didn't drink

2. Use a comma to separate two coordinated phrases or clauses if readers might be confused about where one ends and the next begins.

NOT: Conrad's Heart of Darkness brilliantly dramatizes those primitive impulses that lie deep in each of us and stir only in our darkest dreams but asserts the need for the values that control those impulses.

BUT: Conrad's Heart of Darkness brilliantly dramatizes those primitive impulses that lie deep in each of us and stir only in our darkest dreams, but asserts the need for the values that control those impulses.

NOT: It is in the graveyard that Hamlet finally realizes that the inevitable end of life is the grave and decay and that pride and all plotting and counter-plotting must lead to dust.

BUT: It is in the graveyard that Hamlet finally realizes that the inevitable end of life is the grave and decay, and that pride and all plotting and counter-plotting must lead to dust.

22.6.3 Series of Three or More

You must punctuate any series of three or more.

1. Put a comma after each item in a series except the last, and put a coordinating conjunction before the last item. Treat terms like etc., and so forth, or and the like as an item in the list.

a red, white, and blue shirt

run, walk, or crawl

including pens, pencils, paper clips, tape, and the like

You must go home, get your homework started, and stay off the Internet.

2. If the items in a series are long, and especially if they include internal punctuation, put a semicolon after each item in a series except the last, and put a coordinating conjunction before the last item.

It was the project engineers who failed to consult the risk-management team, even though they worked in the same building; who designed the apparatus (though without user-testing or even without thinking about the needs of users); and who now have cost the company its good reputation with farmers.

22.6.4 Run-in Lists

1. Put a colon or (to be informal or stylish) a dash before the list.

People expect three things of government: peace, prosperity, and respect for civil rights.

Americans thrill to the sounds of baseball—the crack of ball on bat, the pop of ball on leather, the ump's cries of balls and strike, and the chilling silence of the pitcher staring down a batter.

2. Punctuate the list as a series (see 22.6.3). Do not capitalize the first word in the list.

3. Never end the introducing clause with a verb.

NOT: The qualifications are: a doctorate in economics, industry experience, people skills, and an ability to communicate statistical data to a lay audience. BUT: The qualifications are as follows: a doctorate in economics . . .

22.6.5 Vertical Lists

1. Put a colon or period (but not a dash) at the end of a complete introductory clause.

To be as clear as possible, your sentences must do the following:

✵ Match characters to subjects and actions to verbs.

✵ Begin with old information.

✵ Use words that readers can picture.

Use no punctuation after an introductory subject or subject-verb.

To be as clear as possible, your sentences must

✵ match characters to subjects and actions to verbs;

✵ begin with old information;

✵ use words that readers can picture.

2. If the items in the list are complete sentences, capitalize the first word and use terminal punctuation at the end.

The report offered three conclusions.

1. The securities markets will not soon recover.

2. The securities industry is largely to blame.

3. The economy will not recover until securities are better regulated.

3. If the items in the list are not complete sentences, omit terminal punctuation, even for the last item, and do not capitalize the first word.

The report covers three areas:

1. the securities markets

2. the securities industry

3. the effects on the economy