Dash: Concluding A List Of Elements, Focusing Them All Toward One Point

When a sentence begins with an independent clause and ends with a list, you can use a colon between the clause and the list. When the list comes first, it’s better to use a dash to connect the list to the clause. This helps to take three potentially random things and focus them towards one idea which is easier for the reader to process.

Dishes, laundry, dusting – they’re all done now, and I need a rest.

Crocodiles, alligators – they both look the same to me and they look equally dangerous!

Chocolate, strawberry, vanilla – all ice cream tastes good, especially on a hot summer’s day.

Do this, do that, go here, go there – there’s so much to do that I don’t actually get much accomplished during the day.