LC7 04-05 p20 Grammar FC
2/16/05
3:05 PM
Page 2
REALITY
GRAMMAR>>
Understanding Sentence Structure
Pause for
Punctuation:
By Jennifer Dignan
Your sister volunteered to pick up the food
for your party—but not to pay for it. She
left the food, along with this note, on the
kitchen table:
One thing is clear: this party is going to set
you back a bit. What’s not so clear is your
sister’s note. She’s a bit confused about the
proper use of semicolons and colons.
Here’s a guide to their proper use, just in
case you’re a little confused, too.
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Quick Grammar Reference
Here’s a quick refresher on the grammatical
terms appearing on these two pages.
CLAUSE: A group of related words containing
a subject and a verb.
INDEPENDENT CLAUSE: A clause
capable of standing on its own as a
discrete sentence.
COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS: And,
but, or, yet, for, nor, and so: words that
connect clauses of equal rank in a sentence.
CONJUNCTIVE ADVERBS: Adverbs that join,
and indicate some sort of relationship between,
independent clauses. For example: however,
consequently, nevertheless, and meanwhile.
> THE SEMICOLON
A semicolon has two main functions: it allows you to join
related clauses of a compound sentence, and it helps
sort out complicated lists. Of course, it’s a bit more complicated than that; we suggest you keep reading.
20 APRIL 2005 Literary Cavalcade
1
Use a semicolon to join two independent clauses
that are closely related, without the use of a conjunction. In other words, use a semicolon to imply a
relationship between two sentences.
Jarad is struggling with
algebra; perhaps he will enjoy
geometry next semester.
Example 1:
Example 2: Kendra’s ACT score
was unexceptional; she has
never been a good test-taker.
2
Use a semicolon to separate independent clauses
joined by conjunctive adverbs. Place the semicolon
before the conjunctive adverb and a comma after it.
It rained all day; consequently, I
didn’t get much done in the garden.
Example:
3
Use a semicolon between clauses that are joined by
coordinating conjunctions if the clauses are long or
have internal commas. (Otherwise, coordinating conjunctions should be preceded by commas.)
Example 1: I feel tired, yet I can’t fall
(This sentence is clear with just a comma.)
asleep.
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THE SEMICOLON AND THE COLON
LC7 04-05 p21 Grammar FC
2/16/05
2:41 PM
Page 3
I feel tired, no doubt
because I was up so late last
night reading, studying, and
talking on the phone; yet I
can’t fall asleep. (Notice how the
Example 2:
semicolon clarifies the main
break in the sentence.)
4
Use semicolons to
separate items
in a list if the items
already have commas in them.
I invited
David, who’s from
New Jersey; Carolyn,
who’s from California; and Kelly,
who’s from Montana.
Example:
THE
COLON
> THE
COLON
A colon introduces a word, a phrase,
a sentence, a quotation, or a list. Here’s how:
1
A colon can add emphasis to a word or phrase.
As far as I am concerned, there
is only one flavor of ice cream worth
eating: chocolate. (Notice the emphasis
Example:
that the colon puts on the word “chocolate.” The sentence could be written,
“As far as I am concerned,
chocolate is the only flavor of
ice cream worth eating,” but it
would be less emphatic.)
2
A colon can introduce an
independent clause that
amplifies or explains what
precedes it.
I don’t like
that restaurant: the
food is awful and
there is often a long
wait to get in!
Example:
3
A colon can introduce a list. It is often used with
the phrases “as follows” and “the following.”
Her paper analyzes three works
of anti-utopian literature: Erewhon, Brave
New World, and 1984.
Example 1:
Please bring the following: two
pencils, an eraser, and a calculator.
Example 2:
4
A colon can introduce a long or formal quotation.
She reminded us of B.F.
Skinner’s famous words: “Education is
what survives when what one has
learned has been forgotten.” (A colon
Example:
should be used to introduce a quotation when an
independent clause precedes the quotation or,
according to some style guides, when the quotation is
longer than one sentence.)
5
Watch out for these common colon errors:
>> Do not use a colon to separate a verb from
its objects. Wrong: She plays: soccer,
volleyball, and tennis.
>> Do not use a colon to separate
a preposition from its objects.
Wrong: I am afraid of: spiders,
dogs, and
heights.
>> Do not use a colon after “such as.”
Wrong: Gary collects many
things, such as: stamps,
Pez dispensers, and
comic books.
>> Always end a sentence after
the element introduced by the
colon.
Wrong: I needed three
items: eggs, flour, and
milk, but I only had
enough money to
buy two of them.
(The sentence should end
after “milk.” Do not attach
a subordinate clause after the colon and the
list of items it introduces.)
Literary Cavalcade APRIL 2005
21
LC7 04-05 p22 Grammar FC
2/22/05
4:55 PM
REALITY GRAMMAR
Page 4
>> The Semicolon and the Colon
SKILL DRILL
ADD SEMICOLONS, COLONS, AND COMMAS TO THE SENTENCES BELOW.
1. Ethan did not bring his glasses to the theater consequently
he did not much enjoy the subtitled French film.
2. We had the choice of four desserts chocolate cake peach
cobbler pecan pie and assorted sorbets.
3. I know it’s risky but I’m willing to try.
4. Michael was fabulous in the role of Willy I found Andrew
unconvincing as Biff.
5. Jon collects stamps autographs and Pez dispensers.
6. The directions were simple turn left at the light go straight for
approximately three miles and make a right at the gas station.
7. Jeremy has only one goal getting into Yale.
9. Mrs. Levinstein asked me to watch Lindsey for a
few hours this afternoon which normally I would
be happy to do but I can’t because I have a
dentist’s appointment.
10. I sampled three kinds of cheese last
weekend Roquefort a creamy pungent
blue cheese from France which I
thought was delicious Gouda a
sweet fruity hard cheese from
Holland which was tasty with
apples and Gruyere a nutty hard
cheese from Switzerland.
22 APRIL 2005 Literary Cavalcade
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GREEN/GETTY IMAGES
8. I love Mary Bly’s quip regarding the difference between dogs and cats
“Dogs come when they are called cats take a message and get back
to you.”