Special Agent Entrance Practice Exam

What punctuation mark is used to separate items in a list?

1. Period

2. Comma

3. Semicolon

4. Colon

The correct answer is: Comma

The comma is the punctuation mark primarily used to separate items in a list. It helps clarify the structure of the sentence by indicating distinct elements within a series. For example, in the sentence "We brought apples, oranges, and bananas," the commas separate the individual fruits, making it clear to the reader that each item is part of a list. While periods are typically used to end sentences and provide a full stop, semicolons can separate items in a list when those items themselves contain commas, to avoid confusion. Colons are generally used to introduce lists rather than separate their items. Thus, the use of the comma is essential for standard list punctuation, making it the correct choice in this scenario.