Select the correctly punctuated item.
A. At the grocery store, he bought the following items; milk, bread, and eggs.
B. At the grocery store, he bought the following items, milk, bread, and eggs.
C. At the grocery store, he bought the following items: milk, bread, and eggs.
D. At the grocery store, he bought the following items (milk, bread, and eggs).
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is:
C. At the grocery store, he bought the following items: milk, bread, and eggs.
Explanation:
Option C is correct because it uses a colon (:) correctly to introduce a list of items. According to punctuation rules, a colon is properly used after an independent clause when introducing a list, clarification, or further explanation of the preceding sentence.
- Why not A?
Option A incorrectly uses a semicolon (;). Semicolons are used to connect two closely related independent clauses or separate complex items within a list that already contains commas. In this sentence, there’s no independent clause after the semicolon, and the items listed don’t need complex separation. - Why not B?
Option B uses a comma incorrectly. A comma isn’t strong enough to introduce a list explicitly stated as “the following items.” It creates a run-on effect, as “the following items” explicitly signals a forthcoming enumeration, making a colon necessary. - Why not D?
Option D incorrectly uses parentheses. Parentheses indicate additional information or clarification that’s optional, which is not the case here. The items “milk, bread, and eggs” are essential information following “the following items,” not a side comment or afterthought.
When to Use a Colon (:):
- A colon precedes a list after a complete statement, clearly indicating that something follows.
- It emphasizes the relationship between the introductory statement and the listed items.
Example:
- Correct: “He needed three things: patience, strength, and hope.”
Summary:
Option C correctly uses a colon to indicate explicitly that a list of items is forthcoming, making it grammatically correct and stylistically appropriate.