How to use including in a sentence with a list

Lists of Items Within a Sentence

Punctuation for Lists of Items Within a Sentence

Use commas after each item in a list of three or more items.

Example

Nurses monitor a patient’s vital signs including temperature, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and pulse.

Use semi-colons after each item in a list if one or more items already includes a comma.

Example

Included in the case conference were Dr. Andrew Smith, director; Dr. Harriet Clemens, cardiologist; and Charlotte Jackson, registered nurse.

Using Lowercase Letters to Separate Items Within a Sentence

To list items within a sentence, use lowercase letters in parentheses to identify each item. Use the correct punctuation— either commas or semi-colons— to separate the items in a list.

Example

The study participants were divided into three groups: (a) elementary school students, (b) high school students, and (c) post-secondary students.

One of my readers asked recently if I would clarify the proper way to use "include" in a sentence. The simple, direct answer is WITHOUT A COLON. Just go right on with what is included. Here are some examples:

The Grammar Glitches that annoy me most include subject/verb agreement and apostrophe goofs.

The newly appointed board members include Sam Jones, Polly Troxell, and Jim Henry.

Notice that neither of these sentences requires a colon after INCLUDE.

If you use the word "including," it may help clarify to put a comma BEFORE it, but you still do not need a colon after it. More examples:

Everyone survived, including the family dog.

The price for the ticket is $15.75 including sales tax.

The band has five members, including a drummer, two guitars, a violin, and a flute.

The only time you would place a colon after "include" is when you are setting up a bullet list rather than a sentence, as in these examples:

Your choices for the banquet menu include:

• roast beef with mashed potatoes, gravy, and green beans


• chicken quesadillas with cheesy nachos


• moo goo gai pan

Optional side trips for this cruise include:

• visiting a glacier


• photographing seals at play


• dining in an old-time saloon

My thanks to Rachel for suggesting this topic.

In many manuscripts, it is necessary to provide examples that clarify the subject of a sentence. Often, these examples are preceded by the phrase 'such as' or the word 'including.' The usage of these terms can be confusing, so this tip describes how to properly mention examples in your sentences.

Non-essential examples

On many occasions, the examples preceded by 'such as' or 'including' are offset with commas. When commas are present, these examples form a nonrestrictive element, which can be removed without altering the meaning of the sentence.

• Many world-renowned athletes, such as Lionel Messi and Michael Phelps, are also among the richest people on Earth.
• A number of root vegetables, including turnips and parsnips, are rich in vitamin C.

Essential examples

If the examples are required for a complete understanding of the sentence, then they represent a restrictive element and should not be offset with commas. Please note that 'including' is not commonly used to introduce a restrictive element.

• Proteins such as VieA and CdgJ degrade the second messenger cyclic-di-GMP in Vibrio cholerae.
  In this example, saying "Proteins degrade ... cyclic-di-GMP...." would not convey any useful information.

Other tips

A few other points about 'such as' and 'including':

• Do not use a colon (:) after one of these terms; they are meant to directly introduce the relevant examples. It is acceptable to use a colon following a phrase such as "including the following:" at the end of a complete statement (independent clause).</p> This proposal lays forth new guidelines for several committees, including the following: the scientific program committee, the steering committee, and the membership committee.
• 'Such as' or 'including' can also be used elsewhere in the sentence (i.e., not associated with the subject) to provide examples. The street featured several new hybrid vehicles, including a Toyota Prius and a Ford Fusion.
• Last, the word 'like' can be used interchangeably with the phrase 'such as.' In academic writing, however, 'like' should be avoided both because of ambiguity (confusion with the verb 'to like') and because the term is informal.

We hope that this post has helped you better understand the usage of 'such as' and 'including' in academic writing. Please email us with any comments or questions. Best of luck with your research!

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