Colons and Semi Colons
Using Colons and Semi Colons
Semi-colon
It is a punctuation mark that is used to separate two independent (main) clauses which are closely related to each other.
It looks like a period/full stop on top of a comma.
It is stronger than a comma but weaker than a period.
It takes the place of the conjunction within the sentence.
If there is more than one clause in a sentence, use a semicolon to replace the coordinating conjunction (but, and, or, nor, for, so, yet, etc.)
- It was hot and the sun was glaring.
- It was hot; the sun was glaring.
- I love to dance and my mother loves to sing .
- I love to dance; my mother loves to sing.
- The shop was closed because everyone was on leave.
- The shop was closed; everyone was on leave.
Other Uses
To separate items within a list.
- I want the following: moisturizer for the skin, some hair gel and mascara.
It can be used in place of a comma, especially in a list already containing commas
- The crew will consist of Jonathan, the geologist; Marie, the archeologist; Sean, the botanist.
It’s also used between independent clauses which are joined by conjunctive adverbs (like however, moreover, thus and therefore.) Put a comma after the conjunctive adverb.
Colon
It is a punctuation mark
It looks like two dots, one on top of the other:
It can be used to introduce what follows it
- We will need many things for our trip: a tent, clothes, blankets and a towel.
It can introduce a word, phrase, sentence, quotation, or a list.
It emphasizes what we’re introducing. So, it makes the reader stop and pay attention to what follows the colon.
- The school provided the following food during the war: beans, bacon, milk and flour.
It can be used to separate two independent but linked clauses.
The second clause concludes the first clause and also adds more detail to it.
- An alligator is not an amphibian: it is a reptile.
- Everyone agreed: the alligator is a reptile.
In some cases, colons are also used to introduce a quotation or direct speech.
For example:
- Mother told me: “Think before you leap.”
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