Colons and SemicolonsColons and Semicolons

By Christy Bynum, Larica By Christy Bynum, Larica Kintchen and James Burdge Kintchen and James Burdge

What is a Colon?What is a Colon?

It follows an independent clause and It follows an independent clause and introduces one of 3 things:introduces one of 3 things:

A defining exampleA defining exampleA listA listA quotationA quotation

Examples of Using a ColonExamples of Using a Colon

She had only one person to blame: herself.She had only one person to blame: herself. The baseball coach claimed the team’s The baseball coach claimed the team’s

success stemmed from four things: solid success stemmed from four things: solid pitching, good fielding, consistent hitting, pitching, good fielding, consistent hitting, and excellent teamwork.and excellent teamwork.

The chairman was forceful in his pleas for The chairman was forceful in his pleas for help: “Everyone must do his or her part to help: “Everyone must do his or her part to make this company profitable in the third make this company profitable in the third quarter.”quarter.”

What is a Semicolon?What is a Semicolon?

A punctuation symbol used to A punctuation symbol used to separate major sentence elementsseparate major sentence elements

Use them to join two independent Use them to join two independent clausesclauses

Use them to separate a list which Use them to separate a list which already has internal commasalready has internal commas

Link clauses connected by conjunctive Link clauses connected by conjunctive adverbs or transitional phrasesadverbs or transitional phrases

Examples of SemicolonsExamples of Semicolons

My grandmother goes to My grandmother goes to bed earlybed early;; she’s afraid of she’s afraid of missing out on something.missing out on something.

My favorite pizza My favorite pizza combinations are sausage, combinations are sausage, pepperoni, and onions; pepperoni, and onions; extra cheese, mushrooms, extra cheese, mushrooms, and hamburger; and and hamburger; and peppers, onions, and peppers, onions, and olives.olives.

We greatly appreciated We greatly appreciated your excellent on-the-job your excellent on-the-job performance; therefore, performance; therefore, we are giving you a raise.we are giving you a raise.

Works CitedWorks Cited

"Semicolons." "Semicolons." The Writing Center: University of Wisconsin-The Writing Center: University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison. . 2006. The Writing Center: University of 2006. The Writing Center: University of Wisconsin-Madison. 26 Wisconsin-Madison. 26 June 2007 June 2007 <http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbo<http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/Semicolons.html>. ok/Semicolons.html>.

"The Semicolon." "The Semicolon." Guide to Grammar and WritingGuide to Grammar and Writing. The Guide . The Guide to to Grammar and Writing. 26 June 2007 Grammar and Writing. 26 June 2007 <http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/marks<http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/semicolon.htm>./semicolon.htm>.

"Basic Colon And Semicolon Rules ." "Basic Colon And Semicolon Rules ." Faculty of Arts Writing Faculty of Arts Writing CentreCentre. . 2001. Memorial University of Newfoundland. 2001. Memorial University of Newfoundland. 26 June 2007 26 June 2007 <http://www.mun.ca/writingcentre/colonrules.shtml>.<http://www.mun.ca/writingcentre/colonrules.shtml>.