Punctuating Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Elements
Question 1 • GA-Literature and Composition I
Which sentences are punctuated correctly? Select 2 options.Andrew’s favorite vegetables are: cucumbers, green beans, and red peppers.Darren told me about his travels to different tropical islands: Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica.There were several activities to choose from at the resort: snorkeling, swimming, and hiking.Samantha enjoyed many types of music; jazz, classical, hip hop, country, and heavy metal.On my way to the movies, I had to pick up: Roger, Miguel, Kimberly, and Bev.
Answer
A
Andrew’s favorite vegetables are: cucumbers, green beans, and red peppers.
B
Darren told me about his travels to different tropical islands: Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica.
C
There were several activities to choose from at the resort: snorkeling, swimming, and hiking.
D
Samantha enjoyed many types of music; jazz, classical, hip hop, country, and heavy metal.
E
On my way to the movies, I had to pick up: Roger, Miguel, Kimberly, and Bev.
Explanation
A colon can introduce a list when the words before it form a complete sentence. In B, “Darren told me about his travels to different tropical islands” is complete, and the colon introduces the island names. In C, “There were several activities to choose from at the resort” is complete, and the colon introduces the activities. A colon should not separate a linking verb from its complement, as in A, or a verb from its object, as in E; D needs a colon rather than a semicolon before the list.
AI-written and checked against the verified answer.