Colons and Semicolons
What are they?
Colons
:
Colon :
• What is it?
Two points, one on top of the other
What does it do?
• In a sentence, the colon tells you that what comes after it will clarify
or expand on what was said before the colon.
• You can only use a colon after a complete sentence; do not use it
between a verb and the object of the verb
• before a list or an explanation that is preceded by a clause that can
stand by itself.
Examples of Correct Usage
1) Our grades in writing class are based on three main elements:
essays, homework and participation.
2) In order to learn how to skydive, Jeff had to do the impossible: He
had to face his fear of heights.
3) Whenever I’m running a marathon, one phrase keeps me
motivated: “Slow and steady wins the race.”
Other Uses
• In formal letters
ex- Dear Professor Lee:
• In titles & substitutes
ex- Space Odyssey: 2001
Examples of Common Mistakes
1) My favorite types of music are: hip hop, jazz and reggae.
2) There are many things on my “to do” list such as: organizing files,
cleaning my room and feeding the parrot.
Semicolons
;
Semicolon;
• What is it?
It’s a point on top of a comma
What does it do?
• It both separates and ties together, acting like a period but going
between two independent clauses (sentences) that are closely
related.
• Used to separate closely related independent clauses
• We also use the semicolon instead of the comma to separate items in
a complicated list
Examples of Correct Usage
• 1) It was really cloudy yesterday; The sky looked as if it were going to
rain.
• 2) It was really cloudy yesterday; thus, I expected it to rain at any
moment.
Examples of Common Mistakes
• 1) It was really cold last night; so I decided to wear a sweater
• 2) Our grades in economics are based on three main elements;
homework, midterms and quizzes
Conjunctions
• When you have two independent clauses (sentences) separated by a
semicolon, you have the option of adding a conjunctive adverb
(however, instead, moreover, thus etc.)
• You should not use a coordinating conjunction (for, and, but, so etc.)
• You can also choose to have no extra words in between
Colons and Semicolons
Now you know
Works Cited
• "College of Arts and Sciences." The Writing Center Semicolons Colons
and Dashes Comments. The Writing Center at UNC Chapel Hill, n.d.
Web. 16 Oct. 2013. <http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/semicolons-colons-and-dashes/>.
• "Welcome to Purdue OWL Engagement." Purdue OWL Engagement.
The OWL at Purdue, n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2013.
<https://owl.english.purdue.edu/engagement/index.php?category_id
=2>.