Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

Python Introducing Lists Build an Application Add Items

Syntax error

It says there is a syntax error even though i have copied what the teacher did.

shopping_list = []

def add_to_list(item): shopping_list.append(item) print('Added! List has {} item.'.format(len(shopping_list)

def show_help(): print('What should we pick up at the store?') print(''' Enter 'DONE' to stop adding items to the list. Enter 'HELP' for the help menu ''')

show_help() while True: new_item = input('> ')

new_item == 'DONE':
     break
elif new_item ==  'HELP':
     show_help                                   
     continue

add_to_list(new_item)

1 Answer

Scott Bailey
Scott Bailey
13,190 Points

You had a few missing pieces from your code - I've added comments into the working code below that should explain.

There was some missing closing brackets and a missing 'if' statement.

Remember to try your code in the termianl / console and read the error messages, it will help you locate the problems easily!

shopping_list = []

def add_to_list(item):
    shopping_list.append(item)

    # missing closing brackets at the end
    print('Added! List has {} item.'.format(len(shopping_list)))

def show_help():
        print('What should we pick up at the store?')
        print(''' Enter 'DONE' to stop adding items to the list. Enter 'HELP' for the help menu ''')

show_help()

while True:

    new_item = input('> ')

    # missing the 'if' 
    if new_item == 'DONE':
         break
    elif new_item ==  'HELP':
         show_help
         continue

    add_to_list(new_item)

Hope this can help!