Semicolons and Colons
This topic was chosen because semicolons and colons can be seen often, but their use is easily misunderstood.
Semicolon Use
- combine two sentences that are closely related
- The final piece was in place; the project was finished.
- use with conjunctive adverb to show close relationship between two complete sentences
- The final piece was in place; however, the project was not yet finished.
- separate series of phrases or lists that include punctuation, such as commas
- Carrots are edible roots; are colored orange, white, or purple; and contain many essential vitamins.
- use with coordinating conjunctions for two sentences if comma would cause confusion
- I still have many old books, newspapers, and magazines; and, if I ever feel the need, I will read them again.
Colon Use
- signal series of words, phrases, or clauses following a sentence
- There were only three people left in the contest: Will, Pat, and Sue.
- signals the following sentence explains the preceding sentence
- It was clear as day: the man showed us the way.
- used to emphasize a name or description following a sentence
- There is only one person who could have possibly done it with such deft and swagger: George Washington.
- introduce a long quotation after a sentence
- As a politician once said in a famous speech that moved a generation:
- in non-sentences:
- after salutations in letters
- Dear Sue:
- heading of business memo
- To: Will
- From: Pat
- between hour and minutes for time
- The time is not 1:30.
- between chapter and verse in the Bible
- The Bible starts with Genesis 1:1.
- separate title and subtitle
- Rambo 12: No More Stallone
- in bibliography between location published and publisher name
- New York City: New York Times, 2000.
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References Used
- LEO: Semicolon Rules—accessed 2012/09/17
- LEO: Colon Rules—accessed 2012/09/17
- LEO: Semicolon and Colon—accessed 2012/09/17
- Guidelines for Using Semicolons, Colons, and Dashes—accessed 2012/09/17
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