6 Colons Colons and SemiColons 1 st Form

6. Colons; Colons and Semi-Colons 1 st Form Punctuation Work

Colons The colon carries the first part of a sentence to the details, speech or information following. As it is not a full stop, the word after the colon does not have a capital letter.

The Colon has three functions Colons can be used to show a quotation will follow o Hamlet’s major speech begins like this: “To be or not to be. . . ” o HM Prison Notice: “Haircuts while you wait”. Colons are used before a list of some kind o Dickens wrote many memorable novels: David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, Great Expectations Colons explain or expand an idea. The colon “accepts” the first part of the sentence, then passes it on to the second part. o Animals are to be envied: they know nothing of the evils of the world.

Colons and semi-colons You can use colons and semi-colons in the same sentence: you just have to be sure you are clear as to what job they have. The colon is like a springboard: you land on it and are propelled forward. The semi-colon is like the pivot of a see-saw to balance or contrast We receive three educations: (‘springboard’ colon: expands an idea) one from our teachers; (balancing semi-colon) one from our parents; (balancing semi-colon) and one from the world. This is your Captain speaking. I have good news and bad news: (‘springboard’ colon: expands an idea) the ship has broken the record to France; (contrast semi-colon) your luggage, however, is still in England.