IXL | Use semicolons, colons, and commas with lists

Add commas, semicolons, or colons if needed. Otherwise, submit the text without any additional punctuation.

The Roman emperor Nero, born in the year 37 CE, built a lavish palace—known as the Domus Aurea, or Golden House—that included numerous if an artificial if landscaped if and gardens.

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Learn with an example

question

Add commas, semicolons, or colons if needed. Otherwise, submit the text without any additional punctuation.

When the Malones purchased their home, it needed a new if new siding and if a new electrical if and new plumbing.

key idea

Use a colon to introduce a list after an independent clause. If a list does not follow an independent clause, do not use punctuation to introduce the list.

My parents have visited much of Western Europe: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain.

My parents have visited much of Western Europe, including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain.

Use commas to separate three or more items in a series. Put a comma after each item in the list, except for the last one.

Our speakers will be Kevin O'Malley, Rachel Stein, and Linda Wu.

Use semicolons to separate items in a series when using commas would be unclear, such as when one or more items in the series already contain commas.

Our speakers will be Kevin O'Malley, an English professor; Rachel Stein, a print journalist; and Linda Wu, a blogger.

solution

No items in the series already contain commas, so you should complete the sentence with commas.

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TT.1Commas with a series

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