The Semicolon and the Colon The Semicolon The

The Semicolon The following definitions and examples are from Chomp. com. Grammar Bytes! Grammar

st 1 use of a Semicolon The first appropriate use of the semicolon is

nd 2 Use of a Semicolon You can also team up a semicolon with

rd 3 Use of a Semicolon Finally, use the semicolon to avoid confusion when

Reminders about Semicolon Use Keep these three things in mind when you use a

The Use of a Colon Thanks to OWL, the Online Writing Lab from Purdue

Use a Colon… after a complete statement in order to introduce one or more

…to introduce a list… The daily newspaper contains four sections: news, sports, entertainment, and

between the hour and minutes. He said he would be at home by 5:

between chapter and verse in biblical references. He always liked to refer to Genesis

Caution Space once between a colon and the next word, when the colon is

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The Semicolon (; ) and the Colon (: )

st 1 use of a Semicolon The first appropriate use of the semicolon is to connect two related sentences. The pattern looks like this: Complete sentence + ; + complete sentence. Here is an example: My eighty-one-year-old grandmother still rides her Harley motorcycle; her toy poodle balances in a basket between the handlebars.

nd 2 Use of a Semicolon You can also team up a semicolon with a transition to connect two complete sentences that are close in meaning. The pattern looks like this: Complete sentence + ; + transition + , + complete sentence. Check out this example: My father does not approve of his mother cruising around town on a Harley motorcycle; however, Grandma has never cared what anyone thinks.

rd 3 Use of a Semicolon Finally, use the semicolon to avoid confusion when you have complicated lists of items. The pattern looks like this: Item + , + More Information + ; + Item + , + More Information + ; + and + Item + , + More Information Read the following example: On a Harley motorcycle, my grandmother and her poodle have traveled to Anchorage, Alaska; San Francisco, California; and Tijuana, Mexico.

Reminders about Semicolon Use Keep these three things in mind when you use a semicolon: The two main clauses that the semicolon joins should be closely related in meaning. Don't capitalize the word that follows the semicolon unless that word is a proper noun, one that is always capitalized. Limit your use of semicolons; you should not scatter them wantonly throughout your writing. Semicolons are like glasses of champagne; save them for special occasions.

The Use of a Colon Thanks to OWL, the Online Writing Lab from Purdue University, for the following information.

Use a Colon… after a complete statement in order to introduce one or more directly related ideas, such as a series of directions, a list, or a quotation or other comment illustrating or explaining the statement. For Example: The strategies of corporatist industrial unionism have proven ineffective: compromises and concessions have left labor in a weakened position in the new "flexible" economy.

…to introduce a list… The daily newspaper contains four sections: news, sports, entertainment, and classified ads.

between the hour and minutes. He said he would be at home by 5: 30 p. m.

between chapter and verse in biblical references. He always liked to refer to Genesis 1: 18 when starting a speech.

Caution Space once between a colon and the next word, when the colon is used between words. Do not space between numerals and a colon when a colon is used to mark time or ratios.