(defun print-on-separate-lines (&rest xs) (for-each print xs)) ; test the function: (print-on-separate-lines 'i 'am 'doing 'a 'great 'work 'so 'that 'i 'cannot 'come 'down) ; to use it on a list of arguments assembled at run time, first create your list (define test '(why should the work cease whilst i leave it and come down to you)) ; and then call APPLY: (apply print-on-separate-lines test)