Which sentence uses a colon to introduce a list correctly?

• A. She brought three items: a map, a compass, and a notebook.
• B. She brought three items: a map, a compass, and a Notebook.
• C. She brought three items; a map, a compass, and a notebook.
• D. She brought three items, a map, a compass, and a notebook.

Answer: (A)

Introducing a list with a colon works when the first part of the sentence is a complete thought. Here, “She brought three items” stands on its own, so the colon properly signals that what follows will name those items. The items are parallel nouns separated by commas, with “and” before the final item, which is the standard way to present a simple list. The other options don’t fit: using a semicolon would separate ideas improperly, capitalizing “Notebook” after the colon isn’t necessary for a list, and using a comma instead of a colon fails to introduce the list clearly.