Colons You use the colon when you introduce a list, or after a statement that uses words as these, the following, or as follows. Ex: He requested the following: a hammer, a screwdriver, four nails, and a level.

Wrong Way To Use Colons Do not use a colon to introduce a list if the immediately follows a verb or a preposition. My sister likes to top her hambuger with lettuce, tomato, mustard, ketchup, and relish.{The list follows the preposition with.}

Comma Use commas between the main clauses and the compound sentences. Use commas to separate three or more words, phrases, clauses in a series. A chair, a table, and a sofa were

Simicolons Use a semicolon to separate main clauses that are not joined by a coordinating conjunction ( and, but, or, nor, yet, and for.)