Semicolons in a Series

When do you use a semicolon between items in a list or series?

• only if any of the items in the list contain commas.

• anytime there is a list

Use _______ to separate items in a series that is complicated by internal

commas

Answer explanation

have lived in Jacksonville, Florida; Atlantic Beach, Florida; Orono, Maine; San Jose,

California; Ben Lomond, California; and Los Angeles, California.

When should you use a semicolon in a series?

• A) When the series contains internal commas

• B) When the series is short

• C) When the series is long

• D) When the series is at the end of a paragraph

Which sentence correctly uses semicolons in a series?

• A) I have visited Paris, France; Berlin, Germany; and Rome, Italy.

• B) I have visited Paris; France, Berlin; Germany, and Rome; Italy.

• C) I have visited Paris, France, Berlin, Germany, and Rome, Italy.

• D) I have visited Paris; France, Berlin; Germany; and Rome; Italy.

Identify the correct use of semicolons in the following series: "The conference has attendees from New York, New York; Los Angeles, California; and Chicago, Illinois."

• A) Correct

• B) Incorrect

• C) Needs commas

• D) Needs periods

What is the primary function of a semicolon in a series?

• A) To separate items that contain commas

• B) To end a sentence

• C) To introduce a list

• D) To replace conjunctions

Choose the sentence that uses semicolons correctly:

• A) My favorite colors are blue; which is calming, green; which is refreshing, and red; which is energizing.

• B) My favorite colors are blue, which is calming; green, which is refreshing; and red, which is energizing.

• C) My favorite colors are blue; which is calming; green; which is refreshing; and red; which is energizing.

• D) My favorite colors are blue, which is calming, green, which is refreshing, and red, which is energizing.

In which of the following sentences is the semicolon used correctly?

• A) We visited London, England; Paris, France; and Rome, Italy.

• B) We visited London; England, Paris; France, and Rome; Italy.

• C) We visited London, England, Paris, France, and Rome, Italy.

• D) We visited London; England; Paris; France; and Rome; Italy.

Which punctuation mark is used to separate items in a complex list?

• A) Semicolon

• B) Colon

• C) Comma

• D) Period

Select the sentence that demonstrates correct semicolon usage:

• A) The menu includes pasta, with tomato sauce; chicken, with herbs; and fish, with lemon.

• B) The menu includes pasta; with tomato sauce, chicken; with herbs, and fish; with lemon.

• C) The menu includes pasta, with tomato sauce, chicken, with herbs, and fish, with lemon.

• D) The menu includes pasta; with tomato sauce; chicken; with herbs; and fish; with lemon.