Colons and Semi Colons
Using Colons and Semi Colons
Semi-colon
It is a punctuation mark that is used to separate two independent (main) clauses which are closely related to each other.
It looks like a period/full stop on top of a comma.
It is stronger than a comma but weaker than a period.
It takes the place of the conjunction within the sentence.
If there is more than one clause in a sentence, use a semicolon to replace the coordinating conjunction (but, and, or, nor, for, so, yet, etc.)
- It was hot and the sun was glaring.
- It was hot; the sun was glaring.
- I love to dance and my mother loves to sing .
- I love to dance; my mother loves to sing.
- The shop was closed because everyone was on leave.
- The shop was closed; everyone was on leave.
Other Uses
To separate items within a list.
- I want the following: moisturizer for the skin, some hair gel and mascara.
It can be used in place of a comma, especially in a list already containing commas
- The crew will consist of Jonathan, the geologist; Marie, the archeologist; Sean, the botanist.
It’s also used between independent clauses which are joined by conjunctive adverbs (like however, moreover, thus and therefore.) Put a comma after the conjunctive adverb.
Colon
It is a punctuation mark
It looks like two dots, one on top of the other:
It can be used to introduce what follows it
- We will need many things for our trip: a tent, clothes, blankets and a towel.
It can introduce a word, phrase, sentence, quotation, or a list.
It emphasizes what we’re introducing. So, it makes the reader stop and pay attention to what follows the colon.
- The school provided the following food during the war: beans, bacon, milk and flour.
It can be used to separate two independent but linked clauses.
The second clause concludes the first clause and also adds more detail to it.
- An alligator is not an amphibian: it is a reptile.
- Everyone agreed: the alligator is a reptile.
In some cases, colons are also used to introduce a quotation or direct speech.
For example:
- Mother told me: “Think before you leap.”
Related topics
Naming Words for Class 2: Simple English Guide
Naming words are names of people, animals, birds, places or things. E.g. Leo, Rat, Crow, London, Book Four types of naming words E.g. Leo, Andrea, Father, Mother E.g. School, London, Park, New york E.g. Tiger, Monkey, Cow, Parrots E.g. Box, Pen, Apples, Car Everything that we can touch, feel, see and talk about is represented by […]
Read More >>Types of Nouns: Definition, Kinds, and Examples
If you’ve developed a nascent interest in the English language already, or your child enjoys reading from the English signboards and alphabet books, it’s time that they were introduced to nouns. Nouns (or naming words, as they are conveyed to kids) are the flat concrete surface on which your child or student’s vocabulary will be […]
Read More >>
Context Clues
What Are Context Clues? Context clues are small hints in a sentence or paragraph that you can see. It helps you understand the meaning of a word you do not know. For this, you will not need to use a dictionary. The sentence itself helps you understand. When you read, the words near can be […]
Read More >>
Speech Writing: Format, Topics, and Examples
What Is Speech Writing? While writing a speech we should concentrate on the three ‘C’s. Your speech should be clear, concise, and consistent. Let’s see the format of speech writing. Speech Writing Format It contains two parts. Title: Give a good title to the topic while writing a speech. Content: The content section is divided […]
Read More >>
Other topics
Comments: