ColonsColonsandand

Semi-colonsSemi-colons

(Posh punctuation!)(Posh punctuation!)

Colons and semi-colons, like Colons and semi-colons, like commas and full stops, mark the commas and full stops, mark the places where you would break or places where you would break or pause when speaking. You can pause when speaking. You can get away without using them, but get away without using them, but they can come in useful and it is they can come in useful and it is worth knowing where you can use worth knowing where you can use them.them.

STRONGEST STRONGEST WEAKEST WEAKEST

.. : : ;; ,,

COLONS :COLONS :

These nearly always These nearly always introduce or lead intointroduce or lead into something that is to follow. Eg: before something that is to follow. Eg: before someone speaks or before a quote. someone speaks or before a quote.

They must always come after a completely They must always come after a completely independent clause though.independent clause though.

He said something very strangeHe said something very strange:: “I’ll eat my “I’ll eat my hat!”hat!”

Remember this wise sayingRemember this wise saying:: “a stitch in time “a stitch in time saves nine.”saves nine.”

COLONS :COLONS :

A colon is used to break a A colon is used to break a sentence when the second half of sentence when the second half of the sentence the sentence explains, expands explains, expands or summarizesor summarizes what comes in what comes in the first half.the first half.

Eventually, he told his secretEventually, he told his secret:: the the old beggar was, in fact, a very old beggar was, in fact, a very rich man.rich man.

COLONS :COLONS :

Colons are also used to Colons are also used to introduce introduce listslists. Some people use a dash after . Some people use a dash after the colon but this is not right!the colon but this is not right!

To make this pudding, you will need To make this pudding, you will need the following ingredientsthe following ingredients:: three ripe three ripe bananas, a pint of fresh cream, a small bananas, a pint of fresh cream, a small glass of brandy and some cherries for glass of brandy and some cherries for decoration.decoration.

COLONS :COLONS :

Watch out for these phrases. All of them Watch out for these phrases. All of them are quite often followed by a colon.are quite often followed by a colon.

for examplefor example::

in other wordsin other words::

to sum upto sum up::

the followingthe following::

as followsas follows::

Add a colon to the Add a colon to the following sentences:following sentences:

I love presents, decorations and mince I love presents, decorations and mince pies everything about Christmas!pies everything about Christmas!

Don’t forget the password bagpuss.Don’t forget the password bagpuss.

I need to complete these homework I need to complete these homework tasks this weekend Maths, English, tasks this weekend Maths, English, French and History.French and History.

Note that the following Note that the following are all are all independentindependent clauses:clauses:

He said something very strange:He said something very strange: Remember this wise saying:Remember this wise saying: Eventually, he told his secret:Eventually, he told his secret: To make the pudding, you will need the To make the pudding, you will need the

following ingredients:following ingredients: I love presents, decorations and mince pies:I love presents, decorations and mince pies: Don’t forget the password:Don’t forget the password: I need to complete these homework tasks I need to complete these homework tasks

this weekend:this weekend:

SEMI-COLONS ;SEMI-COLONS ;

A semi-colon can sometimes be used to A semi-colon can sometimes be used to replace a full stop. It links two complete replace a full stop. It links two complete sentences and turns them into one sentences and turns them into one sentence. This only works when the sentence. This only works when the two sentences are two sentences are closely linkedclosely linked in in meaning and of meaning and of equalequal importance. importance.

The door swung openThe door swung open;; a masked figure a masked figure strode in.strode in.

SEMI-COLONS SEMI-COLONS ;;Semi-colons are often used Semi-colons are often used before before complex connectivescomplex connectives like like ‘therefore’, ‘nevertheless’, ‘therefore’, ‘nevertheless’, ‘however’, ‘moreover’, ‘however’, ‘moreover’, ‘consequently’, ‘otherwise’ and ‘consequently’, ‘otherwise’ and ‘besides’, when these words link two ‘besides’, when these words link two independent clauses.independent clauses.

He never took any exerciseHe never took any exercise;; consequently, he became very fat.consequently, he became very fat.

SEMI-COLONS ;SEMI-COLONS ;Semi-colons can be used to Semi-colons can be used to break up listsbreak up lists, , especially when each item on the list is rather especially when each item on the list is rather long (possibly needing commas too). Using long (possibly needing commas too). Using commas to separate the items as well would commas to separate the items as well would be confusing.be confusing.

I love Christmas because it is a time to see I love Christmas because it is a time to see friends and family, particularly those we don’t friends and family, particularly those we don’t catch up with very often, an opportunity to catch up with very often, an opportunity to eat really lovely, unhealthy food such as eat really lovely, unhealthy food such as mince pies, nuts and chocolate, and to drink mince pies, nuts and chocolate, and to drink too much wine, a day of exciting presents and too much wine, a day of exciting presents and surprises, and a generally happy time of year! surprises, and a generally happy time of year!

Unlike commas in a list, you can use a semi-Unlike commas in a list, you can use a semi-colon before ‘and’ to introduce the last item.colon before ‘and’ to introduce the last item.

SEMI-COLONS ;SEMI-COLONS ;

I went shopping and I bought some I went shopping and I bought some chocolate chip ice-cream, which is chocolate chip ice-cream, which is almost my favourite, some almost my favourite, some stationery including pens, pencils, stationery including pens, pencils, rubbers and sharpeners, some rubbers and sharpeners, some clothes including shirts, jackets and clothes including shirts, jackets and jumpers, and a bag!jumpers, and a bag!

Colon or semi-colon?Colon or semi-colon?

Sometimes it’s tricky to decide which one to use.Sometimes it’s tricky to decide which one to use.

If the first part of the sentence leads you forward If the first part of the sentence leads you forward to the info. in the second part, use a colon. to the info. in the second part, use a colon.

If the two parts of the sentence seem to be If the two parts of the sentence seem to be equally balanced, use a semi-colon. equally balanced, use a semi-colon.

Florence was very keen on swimming her sister Florence was very keen on swimming her sister preferred cycling.preferred cycling.

The boy was like his father short and fat.The boy was like his father short and fat.

‘‘Do’s and ‘Don’t’sDo’s and ‘Don’t’s

DoDo use a colon: use a colon:– before a listbefore a list– to introduce an explanation, expansion or to introduce an explanation, expansion or

summary of the first part of the sentencesummary of the first part of the sentence DoDo use a semi-colon: use a semi-colon:

– to join two closely linked sentencesto join two closely linked sentences– to break up lists with lengthy items.to break up lists with lengthy items.

Do notDo not use a capital letter after a use a capital letter after a colon or a semi-colon. colon or a semi-colon.