How to use a semicolon,Colons and hyphens and Semicolon create variety, Semicolon and coordination conjunctions
How to use a semicolon, Colons and hyphens and Semicolon create variety, Semicolon and coordination conjunction
How to use a semicolon, the most feared score on earth.
What is a semicolon?
The semicolons (;) are as basic as a period stacked on a comma. Does that mean you can use it as either of the two? Do not flatter yourself. But do not let this punctuation mark get you down, either. After all, that cunning emoticon eye cannot be that bad. ??
How to use a semicolon correctly
The most common use of the semicolon is to join two independent clauses without using a conjunction like y.
Do you use a capital letter after a semicolon? The general answer is no. A semicolon must be followed by a capital letter only if the word is a proper name or an acronym.
We can go to the museum to investigate a little; Mondays are pretty quiet there.
Remember, semicolons are not interchangeable with commas or periods. Instead, they are somewhere in between: stronger than a comma, but not as divisive as a period. It sounds pretty cunning to us.
Here are the rules for correctly using semicolons; we hope you are taking notes
1. Separate clauses related to semicolons connect
You can use a semicolon to join two closely related independent clauses. Let's put it another way. The group of words that comes before the semicolon should form a complete sentence, the group of words that comes after the semicolon should form a complete sentence, and the two sentences should share a logical and close connection:
I ordered a cheeseburger for lunch; Life is too short to count calories.
Money is the root of evil; I do not think the opposite is necessarily true.
Martha has gone to the library; Andrew has gone to play soccer.
Note that the letter that follows the semicolon is not capitalized. The above examples are composed of two complete and grammatically correct sentences pasted together. Yes, that means there are four sentences in total up there and, thanks to the semicolon, only two uppercase letters. That's exactly why you can not replace a comma with a semicolon. Using a comma instead of a semicolon in the previous sentences would result in a comma splice. And there's nothing as painful as a comma splice.
2. Eliminate the conjunction when you use a semicolon
It is not the only thing that can link two independent clauses. Conjunctions (those are your ands, buts and ors) can also do that. But you should not use a semicolon and a conjunction. That means that when you use a semicolon, you use it instead of the ands, buts and ors; You do not need both. Here's a clue: if you used a comma and a "y" to link two related ideas, think of the period (you know, the upper part of the semicolon) as a "y" replacement.
I saw a magnificent albatross, and I was eating a mouse.
I saw a magnificent albatross; I was eating a mouse.
You need a comma and something to avoid a coma splice. That something can be the correct conjunction or the period that turns a comma into a semicolon. If the semicolons can link independent clauses that otherwise would have a point or a conjunction between them, that means they can also demonstrate the contrast. This is part of the same rule, but the conjunction in question is "but" instead of "and". In other words:
This is part of the same rule; The conjunction in question is "but" instead of "and".
To summarize, a semicolon links two related ideas by narrowing the gap between the ideas of two separate sentences or by replacing a conjunction between two related ideas. That also applies to the contrast: just because two ideas are opposite or contradictory, that does not mean they are not related enough to earn a semicolon.
3. Use semicolons in a serial list
You can use semicolons to divide the elements of a list if the elements are long or contain internal punctuation. In these cases, the semicolon helps readers to keep track of the divisions between the elements.
I need climate statistics for the following cities: London, England; London, Ontario; Paris France; Paris, Ontario; Perth, Scotland; Perth, Ontario
My plan included taking him to a nice dinner, although not necessarily expensive; Go to the park to look at the stars, which, incidentally, are incredible at this time of year; and serenándole with my accordion.
Recapitulates: until now we have semicolons to link two independent clauses; replace a conjunction (whether it shows similarity, such as "and" or opposition, such as "but"); and long lists of lovers of the coma. Yes, that was one now.
4. Use periods and commas with conjunctive adverbs
When you have a conjunctive adverb that links two independent clauses, you must use a semicolon. Some common conjunctive adverbs also include, however, however, otherwise, therefore, finally, equally, and consequently.
I needed to go for a walk and get some fresh air; > Also, I needed to buy milk.
The reports of the damage caused by the hurricane were very exaggerated; In fact, the storm was not a "hurricane" at all.
The students had been warned not to walk alone at night; However, Cathy decided that walking was not dangerous if it was early in the night.
I am not so fond of the colors of tiger lilies; Also, they do not smell very good.
These words sometimes appear in other parts of a sentence; therefore, the semicolon rule only applies if it helps the conjunctive adverb to join two independent clauses. (See what we did there?) This conjunctive adverb rule is similar to the conjunction rule. In both cases, verify that the two ideas are independent clauses that can stand on their own as sentences. If so, then you are grammatically good to get to the semicolon.
5. Use a semicolon to give a cunning wink
Emoticons will never replace a solid knowledge of the English language. But surely they can spice it up from time to time. ?? The semicolon is a good punctuation mark that you should have in your back pocket. Or on top of your smile in parentheses. So, whether you use it to prepare a good complex sentence or to wink at someone, now you know how to do it correctly.
Semicolon, colon, and hyphens
What is this brochure about
This booklet explains the most common uses of three types of punctuation: semicolons (;), colon (:) and hyphens (-). After reading the booklet, you can better decide when to use these punctuation forms in your own writing.
Semicolon
The semicolon looks like a comma with a dot above it, and this can be a good way to remember what it does. A semicolon creates more separation between thoughts than a comma, but less than a point. Here are the two most common uses of the semicolon:
1. To help separate items from a list, when some of those items already contain commas.
Let's see an example since it is the easiest way to understand this use of the semicolon. Let's say I want to list three items I bought at the grocery store:
apples
grapes
pears
In a sentence, I would separate these elements with commas:
I bought apples, grapes and pears.
Now suppose that the three elements I want to list are described in sentences that already contain some commas:
ripe and bright apples
Small, sweet and juicy grapes.
firm pears
If I use commas to separate these elements, my sentence will look like this:
I bought bright ripe apples, small, sweet and juicy grapes, and firm pears.
That middle part is a bit confusing: it does not give the reader many visual indications about how many elements are on the list, or about which words should be grouped. This is where the semicolon can help. The commas between the elements can be "up" a notch and become a semicolon so that readers can easily know how many elements are on the list and what words go together:
I bought ripe, bright apples; Small, sweet and juicy grapes; And firm pears.
2. Join two sentences.
An independent clause is a group of words that can stand on their own (independently), it is a complete sentence. The semicolons can be used between two independent clauses. The semicolon keeps the clauses somewhat separate, as a period, so we can easily say which ideas belong to which clause. But it also suggests that there may be a close relationship between the two clauses, closer than would be expected if there were a period between them. Let's see some examples. Here are a few independent clauses that stand out in their own right as complete sentences:
I went to the grocery store today. I bought a ton of fruit. They sold apples, grapes and pears.
Now, where do the dots and commas fit here? They could be used to join two (but not all three) of the independent clauses. So many of these pairs of sentences would be fine:
I went to the grocery store today; I bought a ton of fruit. Apples, grapes and pears were for sale.
OR
I went to the grocery store today. I bought a ton of fruit; They sold apples, grapes and pears.
I COULD NOT DO THIS:
I went to the grocery store today; I bought a ton of fruit; They sold apples, grapes and pears.
But why would I want to use a semicolon here, anyway? One reason may have to do with style: the three short sentences sound like choppy or abrupt. A stronger reason could be if I wanted to emphasize a relationship between two of the sentences. If I connect "I bought a ton of fruit" and "the apples, grapes and pears were all sold more closely", readers can realize that the reason I bought so much fruit is that there was a big sale in it .
Colons
The two points follow independent clauses (clauses that could be alone as sentences) and can be used to present an explanation, draw attention to something or join ideas.
Common uses of the colon.
1. To announce, present or direct attention to a list, a noun or noun phrase, an appointment or an example / explanation. You can use two points to draw attention to many things in your writing. The categories listed below often overlap, so do not worry too much about whether your intended use of the colon fits perfectly into a category.
Example of lists / series:
We cover many of the fundamentals of our writing class: grammar, punctuation, style and voice.
Sample noun / noun phrase:
My roommate gave me the things I needed most: companionship and tranquility.
Example of appointment:
Shakespeare said it best: "For yourself, be true."
Example / example explanation: many graduate students discover that the academy has a dark side: the nights, stress and a paralyzing addiction to caffeinated beverages.
2. Join sentences.
You can use two points to connect two sentences when the second sentence summarizes, sharpens or explains the first. Both sentences must be complete and their content It must be closely related. Keep in mind that if you use two points this way too often, you can break the flow of your writing. So do not get carried away with your colon!
Example: Life is like a puzzle: half the fun is trying to solve it.
3. To express time,
in titles and as part of other writing conventions. The two points appear in several standards or conventional places in writing. Here are some examples:
With numbers, The two points are used to separate units of time (4:45:00 expresses four hours, forty-five minutes and zero seconds); ratios
(2: 1), and verses and chapters of the Bible (Matthew 2:24).
In the bibliographic entries. Many dating styles use two points to separate the information in the bibliography entries.
Example: Kurlansky, M. (2002). Salt: a world history. New York, New York: Walker and Co.
With subtitles. The two points are used to separate the titles of the subtitles.
Example: Everest: the last frontier
After the greeting in a formal business letter. Two points can be used immediately after the greeting in a formal letter (less formal letters tend to use a comma in this location).
Example: To whom it may interest: accept my application for the position announced in News and Observers.
Common colon errors
1. Use two points between a verb and its object or complement
Example (incorrect): The best peaches are: those grown in the great state of Georgia.
To correct this, simply remove the colon.
2. Use two points between a preposition and its object.
Example (incorrect): My favorite cake is made of: carrots, flour, butter, eggs and cream cheese.
To correct this, simply remove the colon.
3. Use two periods after "such as", "including", "especially" and similar phrases. This violates the rule that the material that precedes the colon must be a complete thought. Look, for example, the following sentence:
Example (incorrect): there are many different types of paper, which include: college paper, general rule and plain paper.
You can see that "there are many different types of paper, including" is not a complete sentence. The colon should be simply removed.
How to check errors
Ask yourself a question: does the material that precedes the colon stand on its own? One way to know if the colon has been used correctly is to look only at the words that come before the colon. Do they make a complete thought? If not, you may be using the colon incorrectly. Check above to see if you have made one of the most common mistakes.
Should you capitalize the first letter after two points?
Different dating styles (such as MLA, APA, Chicago, and AMA) have slightly different rules regarding whether to capitalize the first letter after two points. If it is important to follow one of these styles accurately, be sure to use the appropriate manual to consult the rule.
Here is our suggestion: in general, the first word that follows the colon must be lowercase if the words after the colon form a dependent clause (that is, if they can not stand alone as a complete sentence). If the next sentence is a complete (independent) clause, you can choose to capitalize it or not. Whichever approach you choose, be sure to be consistent throughout the document.
Example with an independent clause, which shows two different approaches to capitalization:
The commercials had a message: the geeks will inherit the earth. (Right)
The commercials had a message: the geeks will inherit the earth. (Right)
Example with a dependent clause (which is not an upper case):
There are three things that I love more than anything else in the world: my family, my friends and my computer. (Right)
Scripts
The first thing you should know when talking about scripts is that they are almost never required by the laws of grammar and punctuation. Excessive use of scripts can break the flow of your writing, making it choppy or even hard to follow, so do not overdo it.
It is also important to distinguish between scripts and scripts. Dashes are shorter lines (-); they are used more frequently to show connections between words that function as a unit (for example, you can see adjectives as "well-intentioned") or to spell certain words (such as "email").
With that background information in mind, let's look at some ways to make scripts work in your writing.
1. To launch the material for emphasis.
Think of scripts as the opposite of parentheses. Where the parentheses indicate that the reader should put less emphasis on the attached material, the scripts indicate that the reader should pay more attention to the material between the scripts. The scripts add drama, the parentheses whisper. The scripts can be used to emphasize in several ways:
A single script can emphasize the material at the beginning or end of a sentence.
Example: After eighty years of sleep, the old man realized that it was time to revisit the land of his youth: Ireland.
Example: "The office": a harmless television program or a dangerously subversive guide to crime in the workplace?
Two scripts can emphasize the material in the middle of a sentence. Some style and grammar guides even allow you to write a complete sentence within the scripts.
Example: everything I saw in my new neighborhood, from the graceful elms to the majestic brick buildings, reminded me of my alma mater.
Example (complete sentence): The students, each over the age of eighteen, lined the streets to vote for the presidential candidates.
Two hyphens can emphasize a modifier. Words or phrases that describe a noun can be marked with hyphens if you want to emphasize them.
Example: the fairground, cold and wet in the October rain, was deserted.
Example: Nettie, with her chin up, went out into the storm.
2. Indicate introductions of sentences or conclusions.
Sometimes, you can use a script to help readers see that certain words are intended as an introduction or conclusion to their prayer.
Example: books, paper, pencils: many students lacked even the simplest tools to learn in nineteenth-century America.
Example: to improve their health, Americans must critically examine the foods they eat: fast food, fried foods with fat, junk food and sugary snacks.
3. To mark "extra phrases". The phrases that add information or clarify, but are not necessary for the meaning of a sentence, are usually marked with commas. But when the sentence itself already contains one or more commas, the scripts can help readers understand the sentence.
Example slightly confusing with commas: even the simplest tasks, washing, dressing and going to work, were almost impossible after I broke my leg.
A better example with scripts: even the simplest tasks (washing, dressing and going to work) were almost impossible after I broke my leg.
4. Break the dialogue. In the written dialogue, if a speaker stops speaking suddenly or abruptly, hesitates in speech, or is interrupted by another speaker, a script may indicate pause or interruption.
Example: "I do not know what you're talking about," the politician denied.
Example: Mimi began to explain, saying: "I was thinking ..." "I do not care what you were thinking," interrupted Rodolpho.
We hope this booklet has helped you to better understand the colon, semicolons, and hyphens! For more information about the score, be sure to check out our comma booklet.
How to use semicolons
Today's topic is the semicolon. I get a lot of questions about semicolons, so it's time to clear up some confusion.
4 reasons to use semicolons
Separate clauses
To create a variety
To emphasize the relationship
To separate elements in a complex list
Let's talk more about each of these techniques and how to use other grammar tools at your disposal to improve your writing when it comes to semicolons.
Semicolon separate clauses
The semicolons separate things. In general, they separate two main clauses that are closely related to each other, but that could stand on their own as phrases if they wanted to.
Here is an example:
I have a great test tomorrow; I can not go out tonight.
The two clauses in that sentence are separated by a semicolon and could be sentenced by themselves if instead a dot is placed between them:
I have a great test tomorrow. I can not go out tonight.
Semicolon create variety
One of the reasons you can choose to use a semicolon instead of a period is if you want to add variety to the structure of the sentence; For example, you can use a semicolon if you think you have too many short, broken sentences in a row.
Semicolon emphasize affinity
Another reason to use a semicolon is to draw attention to how related your two clauses are. The semicolon in our example sentence highlights that the reason you can not go out tonight is that tomorrow you will have a big test. You would not write, "English is my fifth class period; I can not go out tonight, "because those two main clauses have nothing to do with each other. I can not think of one reason why English is the fifth period would mean you can not go out tonight.
Semicolon and coordination conjunctions
You should never use a semicolon and a coordinating conjunction such as "and", "so" and "but" to join two main clauses; That is the work of a comma. If you want to use a coordination conjunction, you would write it like this:
Tomorrow I have a big test so I can not go out tonight.
However, there are a couple of cases where it is okay to use a semicolon with a coordinating conjunction.
Semicolons can be linked to complex clauses with a coordinating conjunction
First, if you have a long sentence with several independent clauses, and some of those clauses contain internal punctuation, such as a comma, you can use a semicolon with a coordinating conjunction to make the separation between the clauses clearer. Here is an example:
If you want me to go out tonight, you must first help me with my homework; And if you say no, I'll know you really do not mind leaving.
Because each half of that long sentence has a conditional clause that must contain a comma, it is okay to use a semicolon before the "y" that separates those two parts. You could do two prayers, but you do not have to; and because they are so closely related, it makes a lot of sense that they are separated by a semicolon. The "and" after the semicolon is actually optional in this case, but I think it adds to the flow of the sentence.
The semicolons can separate elements in a complex list
The second instance in which it is okay to use a semicolon with a coordination conjunction also occurs when you have an excess of commas: it is when you need to separate the items in the list that contain commas.
Here is an example:
This week's winners are Joe from Reno, Nevada; Diane from Phoenix, Arizona; and Matt from Irvine, California.
Because each item in the list requires a comma to separate the city from the state, you must use a semicolon to separate the elements.
Note again that both times you can use a semicolon with a coordinating conjunction such as "and", because commas are already being used for something else, so using another comma could confuse readers.
Semicolon with conjunctive adverbs and transition phrases
Finally, use a semicolon when using a conjunctive adverb or transition phrase to join two main clauses.
The adverbs in conjunction are words like "however", "therefore" and "in fact". Here is an example of how you could use them with semicolons:
I have a great test tomorrow; therefore, I can not go out tonight.
A transition phrase is something like "for example" or "in other words". A sentence with a transition phrase could read like this:
I have a great test tomorrow; As a result, I can not go out tonight.
Today's topic is the semicolon.
I get a lot of questions about semicolons, so it's time to clear up some confusion.
Use semicolons to separate things and add variety
The semicolons separate things. Most commonly, they separate two main clauses that are closely related to each other, but that could stand alone as sentences if you wanted.
Here is an example: "It was below zero, Squiggly wondered if it would freeze to death." The two parts of that long sentence that are separated by a semicolon could be single sentences if a dot is placed between them: it was less than zero. Squiggly wondered if it would freeze to death.
One of the reasons you can choose to use a semicolon instead of a period is if you want to add variety to the structure of the sentence, for example, if you think you have too many short sentences and choppy in a row. But when using a semicolon, the main clauses must be closely related to each other. You would not write: "It was below zero; Squiggly ate pizza for dinner, "because those two main clauses have nothing to do with each other. In fact, the other reason to use a semicolon instead of a period is if you want to draw attention to the relationship between the two clauses.
Now let's talk about the two most commonly used punctuation forms instead of semicolons:
Semicolon against two pointsSemicolon against commasSemicolon versus two points
People often ask me what is the difference between a semicolon and two points, and there are a couple of differences. First, the purpose of the two points is to introduce or define something. For example, I could write, "Squiggly checked the temperature: it was -20 degrees." I admit that these differences can be subtle, but I would use two points in that sentence instead of a semicolon because the second clause (the temperature) is strongly related to the first clause (Squiggly checking the temperature).
Use of commas, semicolons and colon within sentences
Punctuation within sentences can be complicated; however, if you know only some of the following rules, you will be well on your way to becoming a polished writer and proofreader.
Rule: use a comma between two long independent clauses when it comes to conjunctions like and, or, but, for, or connect them.
Example: I painted the whole house, but she is still working on sanding the floors.
Rule: if the clauses are short, you can omit the comma.
Example: I painted and sanded.
Rule: if you only have one clause (a pair of subject and verb), normally you will not need a comma before the conjunction.
Example: I painted the house but I still need to sand the floors.
This sentence has two verbs but only one topic, so it has only one clause.
Rule: use the semicolon if you have two independent clauses connected without a conjunction.
Example: I have painted the house; I still need to sand the floors.
Rule: Also use the semicolon when you already have commas inside a sentence for smaller separations, and you need the semicolon to show larger separations.
Example: we had a meeting with the family from Salt Lake City, Utah; Los Angeles California; and Albany, New York.
Rule: two points are used to introduce a second sentence that clarifies the first sentence.
Example: we have established this restriction: do your homework before watching television.
Note that the first word of the second sentence is not capitalized. However, if you have additional prayers after the colon prayer and explain the previous prayer to the colon, capitalize the first word of all the sentences following the colon.
