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Semicolons and Colons

This guide explores the essential functions of semicolons and colons in written English. The famous quote from *Forrest Gump*, "My mama always said, 'Life was like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're gonna get," serves as an example of the semicolon’s usage. Semicolons connect closely related ideas and clarify lists with complex items. Colons introduce lists, emphasize points, and introduce quotations. Learn the correct applications of these punctuation marks to enhance clarity and precision in your writing!

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Semicolons and Colons

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  1. Semicolons and Colons

  2. Name that Quote • "My Mama always said, 'Life was like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're gonna get.” • What movie is this from and who said this quote? • Why do we use the semicolon in this sentence?

  3. An Introduction to Semicolons • Semicolons are one of the most commonly misused grammatical components • The semicolon has many functions • 1) A semicolon is used to join two phrases that could stand alone as sentences instead of using a conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so). • Ex: Tennis is an amazing sport; I play at least twice a week.

  4. Semicolons • 2). A semicolon is used to join two phrases that could stand alone as sentences joined by a conjunctive adverb (however, therefore, in addition, meanwhile, etc.). • Ex: I did not feel well yesterday; however I still went to the football game.

  5. Semicolons • 3) A semicolon is used to separate phrases that are long or contain commas • Ex: I really need a vacation; I would love to visit Los Angeles, New York City, or Miami; but would not want to visit Tuscan, Oklahoma City, or Boston.

  6. Semicolons • 4) A semicolon is used between items in a series if the items contain commas. • Ex: Some of the VMA winners were: Beyonce, Video of the Year; Lady Gaga, Best New Artist; and Green Day, who won Best Rock Video

  7. Colons • 1) The colon is used after an independent clause to introduce a list of items. • My favorite types of food are: Italian, Chinese, and American.

  8. Colons • 2) The colon may be used to emphasize a word, phrase, clause, or sentence which explains or impacts the main clause. • Ex: I discovered an animal that is even cuter than my dog: Meerkats

  9. Colons • 3) Use a colon to introduce a quotation (only if the words before the colon are an independent clause). • Ex: My mom always used to screech: “Put your dishes up”!

  10. Colons 4) Use the colon in the salutation in a formal business letter. -Ex: Dear Sir: or Dear Madam:

  11. Written By: Miss. Currie 2009

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