syntax error .My Enter "SHOW" to see current list , is giving a syntax error, not sure why

Question

shopping_list = []
def show_help():
    print("What should we pick up at the store?")
    print("""
Enter "DONE" to stop adding items.
Enter "HELP" for this hel""")
Enter "SHOW" to see your current list.
""")
def addtolist(item):
    shoppinglist.append(item)
    print("Added! list has {} items ." .format(len(shoppinglist)))
define a new function named show_list that prints all the items in the list
def showlist():
    print("Here's your list:")
    for item in shoppinglist:
        print(item)
showhelp()
while True:
    newitem = input("> ")
    if newitem == 'DONE':
        break
    elif newitem == 'HELP':
        show_help()
        continue
#Enable the SHOW command to show the list.Don't forget to update your HELP documentation
#Hint:make sure to run it
elif:
    new_item == 'SHOW':
        show_list()
        continue

add_to_list(new_item)   
show_list()

Steven Parker · Answer

By itself "elif:" is not a valid statement.   There needs to be a conditional expression between "elif" and the colon, and it looks like the next line has that.   So those two lines should be combined into one.
But Python is extremely hard to read without proper formatting.   In future questions, use the instructions for code formatting in the Markdown Cheatsheet pop-up below the "Add an Answer" area. :arrowheadingdown:
   Or watch this video on code formatting (https://teamtreehouse.com/library/code).

Chandelor Simon · Answer

^ What he said. In this case the computer's "thinking", "elif _____:... elif what, man?" Now I THINK I know what you were thinking here, because for things like 'else' and 'try' - you DO put the ':' after. 
For example, in the check_please.py program we made earlier in Python Basics, we tell the computer to 'try: ' the things that follow, 'except ValueError as err:' if something goes wrong and do what follows there (print some user-friendly messages); otherwise (else:), tell them how much everyone owes.
If you think about it like a conversation I think it helps. This example below won't be proper code or anything, but I think it'll help illustrate my point: 
(Here's what I want you to) try:   this stuff I'm writing here. and this. and this, too. (It's almost like 'try' is setting up a list)
elif this stuff I'm writing here is the case:
                                                      do this. and this. and this, too.
 else: do this instead.
Imagine the ":" and new lines as a break or pause in the conversation - like ellipses. You wouldn't say, "if....this stuff i'm writing here is the case...". You'd say, "If this stuff I'm writing here is the case..."

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Mathew Yangang

Mathew Yangang

syntax error .My Enter "SHOW" to see current list , is giving a syntax error, not sure why

define a new function named show_list that prints all the items in the list

2 Answers

Steven Parker

Steven Parker

Chandelor Simon

Chandelor Simon