Which sentence uses a colon to introduce a list?

• A. He brought three items: a notebook, a pen, and a ruler.
• B. He brought three items; a notebook, a pen, and a ruler.
• C. He brought three items, a notebook, and a ruler.
• D. He brought three items. A notebook, a pen, and a ruler.

Answer: (A)

Using a colon to introduce a list means you have a complete statement before the colon, and what follows is the list of items. In this sentence, “He brought three items” is a complete thought, and the colon signals that the items come next: a notebook, a pen, and a ruler. The items are separated by commas, with “and” before the last item, which is the standard way to present a list of three items.

The other punctuations don’t introduce the list properly. A semicolon is used to link two independent clauses, not to introduce a list. A comma after the introductory phrase doesn’t set up a list in the same way a colon does. Ending the first part with a period and starting a new sentence breaks the linkage between the introductory clause and the list.