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The Semicolon and Colon: How to use them correctly and add elegance and pizzazz to your writing so as to impress your English teachers!. The semicolon functions in 2 different ways:. It connects two independent clauses (or complete sentences with subject + verb/predicate.
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The Semicolon and Colon: How to use them correctly and add elegance and pizzazz to your writing so as to impress your English teachers!
The semicolon functions in 2 different ways: • It connects two independent clauses (or complete sentences with subject + verb/predicate. • In this function, the semicolon is like a subtle period. • The semicolon, when used correctly, can correct a comma splice (two independent clauses joined by a comma).
Examples of first function: • I tell Alice everything; she’s my best friend. • Odysseus is a great hero; he conquers odds most of us would not even try to face.
In the following samples, notice how the two clauses are linked by the semicolon, followed by a conjunctive adverb (however, thus, therefore, nevertheless, etc.) • Romeo feels responsible for his friend’s death; therefore, he must fight Tybalt. • I forgave her; yet, I wanted to borrow that shirt. • Jan always scores higher on the verbal section of tests; however, she prefers math to English and history.
2. The other use for the semicolon is to separate items in a complicated series that already contains commas. • This function is not often used, but comes in handy every now and then.
Examples of second function: • Dr. Dunn’s three favorite cities are Edinburgh, Scotland; San Francisco, California; and Venice, Italy. • My dad asked who you were; what you were doing in Boston; and why I wanted to go to that concert, three hours away.
More Examples of Correct Semicolon Usage: • Suddenly it struck me; I was becoming my mother. • Strangely, we loved that tenement apartment; it was the place our life together began. • The movie we saw last week was great for the most part; however, it moved a little slowly in the middle. • The contestants for the pie-eating world championships came from Geneva, Switzerland; Hoboken, New Jersey; Sydney, Australia; and Montreal, Canada.
The semicolon is NOT used to: • Introduce a quotation • Introduce a list (The colon is used for these tasks!)
The colon can function in the following ways: • To introduce a quotation: • Robert Frost’s narrator explains that he made the less popular choice: “I took the road less traveled by.”
2. To introduce a list or an example: • The mugger took three things: his wallet, his watch, and his swimming medal. • Sam got good grades in three classes: math, English, and French.
DO NOT use the colon: • Between the subject and verb or subject complement: - My favorite sports are: football, soccer, and tennis. • Between a preposition and its object: - Henry has no fear of: heights, speed, or temperature extremes. • By placing it after for example, such as, including: - Carrie has visited several developing countries, such as: Guatemala, Haiti, and Somalia. • By placing it before a quotation that is not an independent clause: - By the end of the play, Macbeth sees all of life as merely: “a tale told by an idiot.”
Closing thoughts: • Do not overuse either the colon or the semicolon. • When used correctly, and sparingly, they add sophistication and elegance to your work and your writing will come across as fluid and refined. • Practice using both, but sparingly at first, until you gain confidence and become adept at including these punctuation marks in your writing. • Have fun and good luck!
Sources: • Hamilton, Sharon. Solving Common Writing Problems. Portland, Maine: J. Weston Walch, 2003. • Stein, Susan. Grammar, Mechanics, & Usage: A Comprehensive Guide to Usage and Style. Portland, Maine: J. Weston Walch, 1998.
