Which list of places requires semicolons instead of commas
In the English language, semicolons are typically used to separate items in a list when those items themselves contain commas. This is also known as a list within a list or a complex list. Here is an example of a list that requires semicolons instead of commas:
1. I have visited New York, New York; Los Angeles, California; Miami, Florida; and Toronto, Canada.
In this example, each item in the list is a city followed by a comma, so using a comma to separate the items would create confusion. To make it clear, we use semicolons to separate the items within the list of cities.
Here's a breakdown of how to form a list that requires semicolons instead of commas:
1. Start the list with the introductory phrase or sentence.
2. Separate the items within the list using semicolons, instead of commas.
3. Use a comma after each item in the list.
Remember, this rule applies specifically when the items within the list contain commas themselves. In most other cases, a simple comma is sufficient to separate items in a list.