Colons and Semicolons
State Standard
Ninth and Tenth Grade Reading and Language
Arts Standards for Written and Oral Language
Conventions
1.1 Identify and correctly use...mechanics of
punctuation (e.g., semicolons, colons, ellipses,
hyphens).
Colons
Rule 1: Use a colon to mean “note what
follows.”
Colons
Rule 1: Use a colon to mean “note what
follows.”
a) Use a colon before a list of items, especially
after expressions such as the following or as
follows.
Colons
Rule 1: Use a colon to mean “note what follows.”
a) Use a colon before a list of items, especially
after expressions such as the following or as
follows.
Example—
In Washington, D.C., we visited four important
national sites: the White House, the Washington
Monument, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial,
and the Lincoln Memorial.
Colons
Rule 1: Use a colon to mean “note what
follows.”
b) Use a colon before a long formal statement or
quotation.
Colons
b) Use a colon before a long formal statement or
quotation.
Example –
Thomas Paine’s first pamphlet in the series The
American Crisis starts with these famous
words: “These are the times that try men’s
souls. The summer soldier and sunshine
patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the
service of their country;…”
Colons
Rule 2: Use a colon before a statement that
explains or clarifies the preceding statement.
Colons
Rule 2: Use a colon before a statement that
explains or clarifies the preceding statement.
Example –
He deserves a raise: He completed the project
on schedule and under budget.
Colons
Rule 2: Use a colon before a statement that
explains or clarifies the preceding statement.
Example –
He deserves a raise: He completed the project
on schedule and under budget.
[Note that when an independent clause follows
a colon, the clause begins with a capital
letter.]
Colons
Rule 3: Use a colon in certain convention
situations.
Colons
Rule 3: Use a colon in certain convention
situations.
a) Use a colon between the hour and minute in
a time notation.
Colons
Rule 3: Use a colon in certain convention
situations.
a) Use a colon between the hour and minute in
a time notation.
Example –
School finishes at 3:15.
Colons
Rule 3: Use a colon in certain convention
situations.
b) Use a colon between chapter and verse in
Biblical references.
Colons
Rule 3: Use a colon in certain convention
situations.
b) Use a colon between chapter and verse in
Biblical references.
Example –
This morning I read Exodus 17:19.
Colons
Rule 3: Use a colon in certain convention
situations.
c) Use a colon between a title and a subtitle.
Colons
Rule 3: Use a colon in certain convention
situations.
c) Use a colon between a title and a subtitle.
Example –
Slaughter House Five: The Children’s Crusade
[book by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.]
Colons
Rule 3: Use a colon in certain convention
situations.
d) Use a colon after a salutation in a business
letter.
Colons
Rule 3: Use a colon in certain convention
situations.
d) Use a colon after a salutation in a business
letter.
Example –
Dear Sir or Madam:
Semicolons
Rule 1: Use a semicolon to join two
independent clauses that are closely related.
Semicolons
Rule 1: Use a semicolon to join two
independent clauses that are closely related.
Remember, an independent clause is a group of
words that contains a subject and a predicate
and can stand alone as sentence.
Semicolons
Rule 1: Use a semicolon to join two
independent clauses that are closely related.
Example:
Tim went to buy tickets for the game; he stood
in line for several hours.
Semicolons
Rule 2: Use a semicolon before conjunctive
adverbs such as however, therefore, thus, or
nevertheless when they are joining
independent clauses. Usually a comma goes
after the conjunctive adverb.
Semicolons
Rule 2: Use a semicolon before conjunctive
adverbs such as however, therefore, thus, or
nevertheless when they are joining
independent clauses. Usually a comma goes
after the conjunctive adverb.
Example:
I like French fries; however, they are not on my
diet.
Semicolons
Rule 3: Use a semicolon before a transition
expressions such as for example, in other
words, in conclusion or in fact when they are
joining two independent clauses. Usually a
comma follows the transitional expression.
Semicolons
Rule 3: Use a semicolon before a transition
expressions such as for example, in other
words, in conclusion or in fact when they are
joining two independent clauses. Usually a
comma follows the transitional expression.
Example:
The artists find inspiration for their creations in
everyday life; for example, religion and nature
are rich sources of ideas.
Semicolons
Rule 4: Use semicolons between items in a
series if the items contain commas.
Semicolons
Rule 4: Use semicolons between items in a
series if the items contain commas.
Example –
You may turn in your books reports on Thursday,
September 14th; Friday, September 15th; or
Monday, September 18th.