• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Erin Wright Writing

Writing-Related Software Tutorials

  • Microsoft Word
  • Adobe Acrobat
  • PowerPoint
  • Writing
  • Editing
  • YouTube Tutorials
  • My Etsy Shop

How to Write Run-In Lists

By Erin Wright

Image of Pen in Notebook | How to Write Run-In ListsRun-in lists are incorporated into sentences, as opposed to vertical lists that stand apart from the surrounding sentences. Let’s look at four ways to write run-in lists: (1) with commas, (2) with semicolons, (3) with parenthetical letters, and (4) with parenthetical numbers.

How to Write Run-In Lists with Commas

Commas can separate simple run-in list items.1

Three famous cartoon cats are Garfield, Sylvester, and Felix the Cat.

The movie Homeward Bound featured three adventurous pets: Sassy the Himalayan cat, Shadow the golden retriever, and Chance the American bulldog.

How to Write Run-In Lists with Semicolons

Semicolons can separate run-in list items with internal commas.2

Chicago boasts many famous foods, including hot dogs with mustard, onions, relish, and peppers; deep-dish pizza with chunky tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and pepperoni or sausage; and Italian beef sandwiches.

Whiting, Indiana, offers an annual pierogi festival; a beach-front park with a walking path, picnic areas, and musical events; and proximity to O’hare, Midway, and the Gary/Chicago International Airport.

How to Write Run-In Lists with Parenthetical Letters

Lowercased letters in parentheses (along with commas or semicolons, as explained above) can separate run-in list items.3

Mrs. Stickleback asked her students to write a report about (a) a personal hero, (b) a favorite author, or (c) a historical figure.

In addition to food and kitty litter, new cat owners should purchase the following: (a) a cat tree for climbing, scratching, and resting; (b) a brush and cat-sized nail clippers; and (c) a variety of toys for chasing, biting, and cuddling.

How to Write Run-In Lists with Parenthetical Numbers

Numbers in parentheses can also separate run-in list items.4 Use numbers, rather than letters, when sequencing is important.

My three most popular YouTube tutorials are (1) “How to Delete Extra Spaces in Microsoft Word,” (2) “How to Use Track Changes in Microsoft Word,” and (3) “How to Use the Comment and Mark-Up Tools in Adobe Acrobat DC.”

Currently, the best new country singers are (1) Cody Jinks, (2) Tyler Childers, and (3) Cody Johnson.

What about that Colon?

You may have noticed that some of the examples above introduce the run-in list with a colon. The general guideline is to preface run-in lists with a colon if the introduction stands as a complete sentence. Check out “How to Use Colons” for more tips on colon usage.

Further Reading: Should You Capitalize the First Word of a Sentence after a Colon?

References

  1. The Associated Press Stylebook 2020–2022 (New York: Associated Press, 2020), 336–37; The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2017), 6.129; Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th ed. (Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2020), 6.3, 6.49; “How do I incorporate lists into my essay in MLA style?” Ask the MLA, The MLA Style Center, accessed November 9, 2019. Unless necessary to avoid confusion, The Associated Press Stylebook (AP style) doesn’t require the serial comma, which is the comma before the conjunctions and or or. If you don’t follow AP style, strongly consider maintaining the serial comma.
  2. The Associated Press Stylebook 2020–2022 (New York: Associated Press, 2020), 345; The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2017), 6.60, 6.129; Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th ed. (Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2020) 6.4, 6.49; “Serial Commas and Serial Semicolons,” Behind the Style, The MLA Style Center, accessed November 9, 2019.
  3. The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2017), 6.129; Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th ed. (Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2020), 6.50; Neither The Associated Press Stylebook nor the MLA Handbook from the Modern Language Association recommends using parenthetical letters to separate run-in list items.
  4. The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2017), 6.129; The Associated Press Stylebook, the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, and the MLA Handbook from the Modern Language Association do not recommend using parenthetical numbers to separate run-in list items.

 

Filed Under: Writing Tagged With: AP style, APA style, Chicago style, grammar, MLA style, punctuation

Home » How to Write Run-In Lists

Primary Sidebar

Meet the Author

Technical Writer and Editor Erin Wright

Hello! My name is Erin. I am a technical writer and editor who shares writing-related software tutorials on this website and on YouTube.

Visit My Etsy Shop for Writing-Related Gifts and Apparel

Mug with text This mug belongs to a great writer and an even better dad.

Recent Tutorials

How to Create Two-Column and Three-Column Lists in Microsoft Word (PC & Mac)

How to Add Citations and a Bibliography in Google Docs

Explore More

  • Microsoft Word
  • Adobe Acrobat
  • PowerPoint
  • Writing
  • Editing
  • YouTube Tutorials
  • My Etsy Shop

Let’s Connect on Social

Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Pinterest
YouTube

Footer

  • Microsoft Word Tutorials
  • Adobe Acrobat Tutorials
  • PowerPoint Tutorials
  • Writing Tips
  • Editing Tips
  • Writing-Related Resources
  • About Me
  • Contact
Email: erinwrightwriting@gmail.com
Phone: 708-669-9503

Privacy Policy | Terms of Use
Visit My Etsy Shop

© Erin Wright, 2012–2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this website’s owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Erin Wright with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.