Punctuation Series: How to Edit Lists

Presentation is everything, especially when it comes to the publishing world. And your presentation of punctuation is crucial to your book’s success. But punctuation can be tricky, boring, and downright distressing at times. As a writer and an editor, I completely understand your frustration with grammar altogether. You’d rather write, right? Right! So let’s continue our 2019 focus on a simple, easy-to-understand punctuation series that I hope will be a help and encouragement to you, allowing you more time to write well.

If you feel like you’re back in grammar school, please take heart—and know that this isn’t going to be a boring, stuffy ‘nother grammar lesson.

Especially if you write nonfiction and work with a lot of lists and such, this blog post is going to help you, or if you write fiction and your character makes a grocery list, you’re going to need to read this blog post to make sure the job is done correctly!

Why Paying Attention to Lists Is Important

• You need parallel elements
• You need to be consistent

This information focuses on three kinds of lists within the text (does not include the more technical style; that’s for another day).

Run-in lists (Chicago Manual of Style 6.129)

Most numbers or letters in a run-in list within the text are generally enclosed in parentheses. If letters, sometimes you can use italics within the parentheses. Separate the items with commas, unless there are internal commas, and then you’ll use semicolons to separate the items in the list. (The only time you will use a vertical list is if the list is a complete sentence, or a few sentences; but we will discuss that in a bit.)

Here are a few examples:

As a watchmaker, my father has over twenty years’ experience in the following: customer service, watch mechanics, history of timepieces, and Swiss watches.

Compose three sentences consisting of (1) indicative mood, (2) subjunctive mood, and (3) objective mood.

Please bring the following items with you to the writer’s conference: (a) two dozen Pilot Easytouch pens, two dozen Casemate mechanical pencils, and two dozen packages of college-ruled notebook paper; (b) twelve Big Sky planners and six reams of 20-pound printer paper; and (c) 100 coffee filters and five packages of Styrofoam cups.

Vertical Lists: capitalization, punctuation, and format (Chicago Manual of Style 6.130)

Introduce a vertical list with a grammatically correct sentence, and put a colon after it, like this:

You will use an unordered list (with bullet points) or an ordered list (with numbers or letters). Note: if the list is unordered, and the items have complete sentences, then you will not need to capitalize the beginning or use any end punctuation (but, of course, capitalize those proper nouns!). If your list runs over the standard line, then insert a hanging indent. Let me show you how this works, in case you’re reading this, confused:

Example:

When submitting your book proposal, you must include the following:

cover letter, pitching to the agent or editor what your book is about and why you are qualified to write it

author bio, explaining in creative detail your publishing credits and any expertise that sets you apart or gives you credit for the book you’re writing

marketing strategy, where you share your ideas and strategy for selling your book

social media platform, showing your numbers, reach, and engagement

sample chapters that are well edited and are the best they can be

Another Example:

You can put short lists in nice little columns, like this:

Pens                Erasers

Pencils            Sharpeners

Paper               Ink

More Examples:

Explain in three sentences:

1. Why you want to write
2. What drives you to write
3. Who your audience is
   
   

(Notice how the sentence before the list completes each numbered list as a whole idea.)

Final Example:

Bulleted lists are formatted the same as a numbered list.

Use Microsoft Word to complete the following functions:

• Turn on Track Changes before you begin editing.
• Change the font from the Home tab.
• Set the appropriate Styles from the Styles menu if you have any headings in your manuscript.

Vertical lists punctuated as a sentence (Chicago Manual of Style 6.131)

For several basic steps in self-editing their manuscripts, writers must

1. check for consistency of character point of view,
2. keep adverbs to a minimum, and
3. use strong action verbs and concrete nouns.

How’s that for Lists? If you need to know where the List function is in Word, it’s under the Home tab, in the Paragraph box. There are several types of lists to choose from.

Using well-placed punctuation marks is important because your overall presentation makes a world of difference to your editor, agent, publisher, and readers. That may seem counterintuitive because the writing is equally important, but it’s the presentation that tends to enhance your credibility as a writer. (Especially if you self-publish and are doing your own first-draft editing.)

Next month, we’ll look at some more ways to edit the punctuation in your manuscript, but for now. . . I hope you found this blog post helpful!

Please take a minute and join in the discussion! I’d love to hear from you!

Do you use lists in your manuscript? Which ones do you enjoy using?

Tisha Martin writes historical fiction and nonfiction but also edits and proofreads for beginning and best-selling writers, professional editing agencies, and publishing houses. She has a BA in Professional Writing, an MS in English Education, and an editing certificate from the PEN Institute, affordable continuing education for editors. Active in American Christian Fiction Writers and The PEN, she appreciates the writing and editing communities. As Assistant Director of PENCON, a conference for editors, she enjoys travel marketing and updating PENCON’s Facebook Page. Connect with Tisha on her website www.tishamartin.com and engage in the conversation.