UWF WRITING LAB
RULES OF THUMB FOR
SEMICOLON AND
COLON USE
from
Real Good Grammar, Too
by Mamie Webb Hixon
Created by April Turner Revised
by Mamie Webb Hixon June 17,
1
Does the sentence below
require either a semicolon or a
colon – or both?
• Norman Lear, creator of the
television classic All in the Family,
took the social upheavals of the time
– civil rights, the Vietnam War, the
women’s movement – and invited
viewers to face these situations with
a laugh.
2
Does the sentence below
require either a semicolon or a
colon – or both?
• NO ADDITIONAL PUNCTUATION IS
REQUIRED.
• Norman Lear, creator of the television
classic All in the Family, took the social
upheavals of the time – civil rights, the
Vietnam War, the women’s movement –
and invited viewers to face these
situations with a laugh.
3
Does the sentence below
require a semicolon?
• We volunteers worked hard for the
Coffee Party candidates we knew,
however, they didn’t stand a chance.
4
Does the sentence below
require a semicolon?
• We volunteers worked hard for the
Coffee Party candidates we knew,
however, they didn’t stand a chance.
• YES
•
•
We volunteers worked hard for the Coffee Party candidates;
we knew, however, they didn’t stand a chance.
We volunteers worked hard for the Coffee Party candidates
we knew; however, they didn’t stand a chance.
5
USE A SEMICOLON
• Between two complete sentences. Each sentence
on either side of the semicolon must be
complete with its own subject and verb. Keep in
mind that a semicolon functions the same way as
a period and a capital letter.
•
•
EXAMPLES: Not all poetry is serious and difficult to read and
interpret; the poetry of Maya Angelou, for instance, is rhythmic,
folksy, and easy to read.
You is a second-person pronoun rarely used in the South; most
Southerners use "y'all" instead.
6
USE A SEMICOLON
• Between two complete sentences
connected by words such as however,
therefore, consequently, nevertheless,
and then.
• EXAMPLE: We are creating study guides
to help students prepare for the tests;
however, students’ scores are reflecting
improvement.
7
SEMICOLONS &
COLONS IN USE
• The meteorologist reported the weather in places like
Truth or Consequences, New Mexico; Two Egg, Florida;
Rome, Georgia; and Pineapple, Alabama.
• Most Americans have fought for a principal cause: the
Equal Rights Amendment, the civil rights movement, gaylesbian rights, etc.
• I hate this one course: English.
8
EXAMPLES
• The insurance agent explained the policy
and its codicil; then she discussed the
premiums.
• Everyone is entitled to his or her own
opinion; however, no one is entitled to his
or her own facts.
9
USE A SEMICOLON
• Between items of a series that have
internal commas.
• EXAMPLE: I bought an old, dilapidated
chair; a marble top table, which was in
beautiful condition; and a new, ugly white
rug.
• EXAMPLE: We are thinking about moving
to Omaha, Nebraska; Gainesville, Florida;
or Memphis, Tennessee.
10
USE A SEMICOLON
• Between two sentences/independent clauses
joined by a coordinating conjunction (fanboys), if
one or both of the clauses contains internal
commas.
• EXAMPLE: Success in college, so some believe,
requires self-discipline, intelligence, industry, and
perseverance; but others, fewer in number,
assert that only personality is important.
11
WARNING:
DO NOT USE A SEMICOLON
• Between an independent clause and a phrase or a dependent
clause:
You should not make such statements; although
they are correct.
• Interchangeably with a comma:
I enjoy sports; particularly tennis, soccer, and
fishing.
• To substitute for a colon:
The military expects one thing from its rank and file;
obedience.
12
REMEMBER:
• A semicolon is interchangeable with a period.
• Tell me and I forget; show me and I
remember; involve me and I understand.
• Tell me and I forget. Show me and I
remember. Involve me and I understand.
13
USE A COLON
• Between a complete sentence and a list or
explanation. Please note that a complete sentence
must precede a colon.
• EXAMPLES: There is one common disease on this campus:
computer viruses. (Yes, one item can constitute a list.)
• The players came from all over the world: Germany, Russia,
Japan, Canada, and Australia.
• There is one major difference between my roommate and
me: we are of different religious beliefs.
• Computer science majors have an advantage in the job
market: they are more adept than most people at using
computers.
14
Use a colon with a list even if the list comes
first. (Sometimes, reversing the order of the
introductory statement and the list creates a
rhetorically effective sentence.)
• These are all words that describe my
first few days in college: impressive,
overwhelming, exciting, surprising.
• Impressive, overwhelming, exciting,
surprising: these are all words that
describe my first few days in college.
15
Lists Without Colons
• I am studying statistics, astronomy, and physics.
• The key factors to consider when you purchase
software are price, performance, and support.
• Among the top ten sexiest men listed in People
magazine were Mel Gibson, Denzel Washington,
Danny Glover, and Tom Cruise.
• The librarian righteously cleansed the library of
all "dirty literature" such as Catch 22,
Huckleberry Finn, and The Color Purple.
16
USE A COLON
• Preceding a long, formal quotation. Please
note that a complete sentence must
precede a colon.
• EXAMPLE: Defending free speech,
Voltaire made this statement: “I may
disagree with what you say, but I shall
defend your right to say it.”
17
MORE EXAMPLES
• EXAMPLE: Ian was dissatisfied with the
photos he had taken: all of them were
out of focus.
• EXAMPLE: The reasons he cited for his
success are as follows: integrity, industry,
and a pleasant disposition.
• EXAMPLE: Three plays by William
Shakespeare will be presented this
summer: Hamlet, Macbeth, and Othello.
18
RULE OF THUMB
• A COMPLETE SENTENCE MUST
PRECEDE A COLON:
• All of my high school teachers said one
thing in particular: college is going to be
difficult.
19
Use a colon
• After “the following” and “as follows”:
• The workshop will include the following topics:
anger management, stress management,
communication skills, and sexual harassment.
• The strengths of this department are as
follows: teamwork, customer service, and
professionalism.
20
WARNING! DO NOT
PLACE A COLON IN
THESE INSTANCES:
• DO NOT place a colon before or after
namely or for example.
• INCORRECT: We agreed to the plan:
namely, to give him a surprise party.
• CORRECT: We agreed to the plan,
namely, to give him a surprise party.
21
WARNING! DO NOT
PLACE A COLON IN
THESE INSTANCES:
• DO NOT place a colon after a verb (are,
include, etc.) unless the sentence ends with a
verb (There are two things that make us what
we are: our heredity and our environment).
• INCORRECT: The components of this history
course are: lecture, recitation, and laboratory.
• CORRECT: The components of this history
course are lecture, recitation, and laboratory.
22
WARNING! DO NOT
PLACE A COLON IN
THESE INSTANCES:
• DO NOT place a colon after a preposition (such
as, with, etc.)
• INCORRECT: Included in our curriculum are
many of the physical sciences such as:
engineering, biology, and chemistry.
• CORRECT: Included in our curriculum are many
of the physical sciences such as engineering,
biology, and chemistry.
23
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
LET’S PRACTICE!!!
Your sentence seems to be well phrased, however, there
are a few minor errors.
Your sentence seems to be well phrased; however, there
are a few minor errors.
I am positive that you cannot resist this one appeal money.
I am positive that you cannot resist this one appeal: money.
My best friends are: Liz, Terese, and Tasia.
My best friends are Liz, Terese, and Tasia.
Mark Twain reflects on writing in this statement,“The
difference between the right word and the almost right
word is the difference between lightning and a lightning
bug.”
Mark Twain reflects on writing in this statement: “The
difference between the right word and the almost right
word is the difference between lightning and a lightning
bug.”
24
More Practice!!!
• Nominations for the presidency included the names
of Mrs. C. B. Jones, member of the Garden Club,
Mrs. Alton Pesky, local librarian, and Miss Sonia
Black, official of the League of Women Voters.
• Nominations for the presidency included the names
of Mrs. C. B. Jones, member of the Garden Club;
Mrs. Alton Pesky, local librarian; and Miss Sonia
Black, official of the League of Women Voters.
• There were three reasons for his success,
integrity, industry, and a good personality.
• There were three reasons for his success:
integrity, industry, and a good personality.
25
Final Practice!!!
• My favorite television shows come on the
History Channel, such as: History’s Mysteries
and Modern Marvels.
• My favorite television shows come on the
History Channel, such as History’s Mysteries
and Modern Marvels.
• I love several subjects at school, namely:
English and statistics.
• I love several subjects at school, namely
English and statistics.
26
BONUS!!!
• The number of students assigned to each
teacher in an individual classroom is as follows;
for prekindergarten through grade 3, 21
students, for grades 4 through 8, 27 students,
and for grades 9 through 12, 30 students.
• The number of students assigned to each
teacher in an individual classroom is as follows:
for prekindergarten through grade 3, 21
students; for grades 4 through 8, 27 students;
and for grades 9 through 12, 30 students
27