How to structure lists
A list is a grouping of more than one like 'items'. These items can be anything (from nouns to adjectives to verbs) and can be as short as a single word or as long as a clause.
Abbreviating lists
If all the items in a list have the same element, the list can be abbreviated by keeping only one instance of the element. [...] means it can be omitted.
- Nominal.
- Determiner. For example, she loved her dog and [her] cat.
- Preposition. For example, he holidayed in Australia and [in] New Zealand.
- Object. For example, he lived with [his mum] and cared for his mum.
- Common mistakes include:
- Abbreviating when not all the items have the same element. For example, her dog, cat, and his bird. It should be either:
- her dog, her cat, and his bird, or
- her dog and cat and his bird.
- Abbreviating only half of the phrase. For example, the south and the north islands. It should be either:
- the south and north islands, or
- the south island and the north island.
- Abbreviating when not all the items have the same element. For example, her dog, cat, and his bird. It should be either:
- Verbal.
- Auxiliary. For example, we should stop for lunch and [should] fill up on petrol.
- 'To'. For example, she wanted to sing and [to] dance.
- Commons mistakes include:
- Adding tense to the second verb. For example, she wanted to sing and danced.
- Using negation incorrectly. For example, he made sure not to eat too much and only drink water at the party. This means that 'not' is applied to both phrases. To negate only the first phrase, it should be either:
- made sure to not eat too much and only drink water, or
- made sure not to eat too much and to only drink water.
- Clarity. If the items are long and/or complex, keeping all instances of the element can reduce the potential for confusion.
- Emphasis. Keeping all instances helps to separate the items, which emphasises their individuality.
Keeping lists consistent
If possible, all items in a list should have the same form.
- Plural form. Consider the list birds, dogs, and a cat. Obviously, sometimes there is only one cat, but most of the time it would be better if the items are all plural or all singular.
- Noun form. Consider the list childcare and teaching children. The first item is a noun, while the second is a verb-ing phrase. It would be better to substitute one: either childcare and preschool or caring for and teaching children.
- Object form. Consider the list buy a house, rent a car, and sell. The first two items include an object, while the third does not. It would be better to rewrite the list as buy, rent, and sell or to find an object for sell.
