What are some best practices for using semicolons and colons? These punctuation marks can be tricky to master, but they can also add clarity and elegance to your writing. In this article, you will learn how to use them correctly and avoid common mistakes.
Semicolons have two primary purposes: to link two independent clauses that are closely related, or to separate items in a complex list. When joining two clauses, a conjunction is not necessary; however, a transitional word followed by a comma can be used, such as "however," "therefore," or "meanwhile." For instance: She loved reading; he preferred watching movies. He failed the test; however, he did not give up. When separating items in a list, semicolons are used when the items contain commas, which helps to make the list more readable and less confusing. Examples include: The participants came from New York, NY; Los Angeles, CA; and Chicago, IL; and she ordered a salad with tomatoes, cheese, and olives; a soup with noodles, carrots, and celery; and a glass of water.
Generally, kill all semicolons. As Kurt Vonnegut said, “The semicolon only proves you’ve been to college.” End with a period or continue the thought with an em dash. Semicolons are jarring and are way past their expiration date.
In the first use, make sure the clause is a full sentence and not a fragment! Ask yourself, "Would this work grammatically if the semicolon were a period?" The answer should be yes, with the only difference being a lower case first word in the second sentence. The second use, on the other hand, is a substitution for a comma. The first use is a period substitution; the second use is a comma substitution.
Colons have two primary purposes: introducing something that follows or emphasizing something that precedes. When introducing, a colon can be used to introduce a list, a quotation, an explanation, or a conclusion; however, it should only be used after a complete sentence and the first word after the colon should not be capitalized unless it is a proper noun or the start of a quotation. For instance: There are three types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic; He said: "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself"; The reason is simple: he lied; The verdict was clear: guilty. When emphasizing, a colon can be used to emphasize a word, phrase, or clause; however, it should only be used when the emphasis is strong and unexpected, and it should not be used too often. For example: There was only one word to describe her: brilliant; She had one goal in mind: to win the race; He made a startling confession: he was the one who stole the money.
One thing that I've noticed is that people often confuse the use of semicolons and colons, as they are both used to connect ideas. Let me make it easier for you to understand the use of these two punctuation marks. Semicolons are used to separate closely related independent clauses, which are complete sentences that can stand alone. For example: "I have a big test tomorrow; I need to study tonight." On the other hand, colons work with directly related ideas. The text before the colon sets the stage for what follows, and the words that come after the colon provide further explanation, detail, or elaboration. For example: "I have three things to do tonight: finish my homework, go to the gym, and call my mom."
It's also worth noting that unlike the more common comma and period marks, the colon and semicolon both fall outside of quotation marks when they aren't directly related to the quote in question. For instance: Here's a little "secret": I enjoy punctuation far more than most sane humans. I asked her to define "friendship"; she glared at me and then threw a cantaloupe at my jugular. In contrast: "I love fruit," I said in the days before I got pelted by cantaloupes. A wise man once told me: "Melons should not be weapons."
Misusing or confusing semicolons and colons is a common mistake. To avoid or correct this, remember not to place a semicolon or colon between a subject and verb, or between a verb and its object or complement. For instance, "The book; was very interesting" and "She likes: chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry" are incorrect. Additionally, do not use a semicolon or colon after a coordinating conjunction such as "and," "but," or "so." For example, "He was hungry, but; he had no money" and "She was tired, so: she went to bed" are incorrect. Furthermore, do not use a semicolon or colon to introduce a question or direct speech, like "He asked me: what time is it?" or "She said: "I'm sorry."" Lastly, do not interchange semicolons and colons as they have different functions and meanings. For example, "He likes apples; oranges, and bananas" and "She has two hobbies: reading and writing" are incorrect.
One way to remember which are coordinating conjunctions (those that join clauses with a comma) is with the acronym FANBOYS. It represents the words for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.
To master the art of writing with semicolons and colons, practice and review are essential. Here are some tips to help you use them effectively: read examples of good writing that use them correctly, pay attention to how they connect or separate ideas, and how they introduce or emphasize information; write sentences that use them appropriately, varying sentence structure and length, and using transitional words or phrases when needed; and check your writing for errors or inconsistencies, using a grammar checker tool or asking someone to proofread your work. Remember to follow the rules and conventions of semicolons and colons, and avoid overusing or misusing them. With the right amount of practice and review, you can make your writing more sophisticated and precise, and impress your readers.
Semicolons work well for joining together separate independent clauses when you don't want to use a conjunction. Colons should be used to introduce a list or present an item of particular emphasis.