Conventions of Composition Rule 3 Practice

1. Wrong: If we're lucky, we can travel to Bangkok, Thailand, Jakarta, Indonesia, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia this summer.

Better: If we're lucky, we can travel to Bangkok, Thailand; Jakarta, Indonesia; and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia this summer.

Explanation: Because each of the items in the list has an internal comma, the semicolons make a clearer distinction between items on the list.

2. Wrong: I wanted to buy pasta, tomato sauce, the kind without lumps of tomato, cheese, and garlic bread.

Better: I wanted to buy pasta; tomato sauce, the kind without lumps of tomato; cheese; and garlic bread.

Also better: I wanted to buy pasta, tomato sauce (the kind without lumps of tomato), cheese, and garlic bread.

Explanation: Since one of the items on the list has an internal comma, the list is clearer with semicolons. However, since the internal comma separates an aside, parentheses make the list even clearer.

3. Wrong: When my family goes camping, we bring a tent, sleeping bags, lots of food, mostly dehydrated, and a water filter.

Better: When my family goes camping, we bring a tent; sleeping bags; lots of food, mostly dehydrated; and a water filter.

Also better: When my family goes camping, we bring a tent, sleeping bags, lots of food (mostly dehydrated), and a water filter.

Explanation: As in the example above, you can separate items on the list with semicolons, leaving the internal comma in one item, or you can put the aside about food into parentheses.

4. Wrong: I always carry interesting, new books, my phone, phone charger, and wrinkle-free, stain-free clothes for travel.

Better: I always carry interesting, new books; my phone; phone charger; and wrinkle-free, stain-free clothes for travel.

Explanation: Because two of the items on the list have internal commas, using semicolons to separate items on this list makes a clearer list.