def _format_list_items(list_items):
    """Generate an indented string out of a list of items."""
    list_string = ''
    if list_items:
        for item in list_items:
            list_string = list_string + "    '" + item + "',\n"
        list_string = "[\n    {}\n]".format(list_string.strip()[:-1])
    else:
        list_string = '[]'
    return list_string