How to Write Run-In Lists

Run-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.