Punctuation:
Colons, Semicolons,
Dashes and Hyphens
JOU4201 NEWSPAPER EDITING
K. EFIRD
UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA
Colons
AP Stylebook Punctuation Guide
colon tells the reader that what follows
is closely related to the preceding clause.
A
Colons
colon tells the reader that what follows
is closely related to the preceding clause.
 The most common use of a colon is at the
end of a sentence to introduce lists,
tabulations, texts, etc.
A
 Courses
needed for this degree are:
Editing, Reporting, Practicum and Ethics.
Colons
Capitalize
the first word after a colon
ONLY if it is a proper noun OR the start
of a complete sentence:
He
promised this: The company will
recoup the losses. (complete sentence)
Colons
Capitalize
the first word after a colon
ONLY if it is a proper noun OR the start
of a complete sentence:
He
promised this: The company will
recoup the losses. (complete sentence)
Three qualifications are required: writing,
editing and photography skills. (not a
complete sentence)
Colons
A
colon can be used for emphasis:
He had one goal: world domination.
Colons
A
colon can be used for emphasis:
He had one goal: world domination.
A colon can be used for dialog or when
a Q&A writing style is being employed:
 Prosecutor:
When did you last see the accused?
 Witness: At the glow party on Friday.
 Q:
Did you see the accused at the glow party?
 A: Yes, last Friday night.
Colons
 With
quotations, use a colon to:
introduce
long quotations within a
paragraph
end paragraphs that introduce a
paragraph of quoted material
The
scholarships winners are as follows:
Colons
 With
quotations, use a colon to:
introduce
long quotations within a
paragraph
end paragraphs that introduce a
paragraph of quoted material
The scholarships winners are as follows:
 Colons
go outside quotation marks unless
they are part of the quotation.
Semicolons
 In
AP Stylebook Punctuation Guide
general, use the semicolon to indicate
a greater separation of thought than a
comma but less than a period implies.
Semicolons

In general, use the semicolon to indicate
a greater separation of thought than a
comma but less than a period implies.

Use a semicolon when a conjunction
(and, but, for) is not present:
The
package was due Monday; it arrived
today.
Dashes
A
AP Stylebook Punctuation Guide; S&W p. 9
dash is a mark of separation stronger
than a comma, less formal than a
colon, and more relaxed than
parentheses.
Dashes
A
dash is a mark of separation stronger
than a comma, less formal than a
colon, and more relaxed than
parentheses.
Use
a dash only when a comma seems
inadequate.
Dashes
Guidelines: Use
dashes to denote:
An
abrupt change in thought or an
emphatic pause. (But avoid overuse of
dashes when a comma would suffice.)
Design
note: Be sure you are using a true
dash – not hyphens. (Word will turn two
hyphens into a dash for you.) Always put
a space before and after the dash.
Dashes
Guidelines: Use
dashes to denote:
Attribution
before an author or
composer’s name at the end of a
quote:
“Tonight
we’re gonna party like it’s
1999” – Prince
Dashes
Guidelines: Other
 In
uses
datelines on news stories:
 NEW
YORK (AP) – The mayor announced…
Dashes
Guidelines: Other
 In
uses
datelines on news stories:
 NEW
 For
YORK (AP) – The mayor announced…
a series within a sentence:
 She
listed the qualities – determination, dedication,
persistence – she looked for in an employee.
Dashes
Guidelines: Other
 In
uses
datelines on news stories:
 NEW
 For
YORK (AP) – The mayor announced…
a series within a sentence:
 She
listed the qualities – determination, dedication,
persistence – she looked for in an employee.
 For
lists (although, designwise, bullets (symbols) are
preferred if possible).
Hyphens
 When
AP Stylebook Punctuation Guide; S&W p. 34-35
two or more words are combined to
form a compound adjective, a hyphen
usually is used.
Hyphens
 When
two or more words are combined to
form a compound adjective, a hyphen
usually is used.
 Use
hyphens to avoid ambiguity or to form a
single idea from two or more words.
She
recovered her lost bracelet.
She
re-covered the sofa.
Hyphens
 Compound
modifiers:
When
two or more words that express a single
concept precede a noun, use hyphens to link all the
words.
 Full-time
job; well-known actor; first-quarter touchdown
Hyphens
 Compound
modifiers:
When
two or more words that express a single
concept precede a noun, use hyphens to link all the
words.
 Full-time
job; well-known actor; first-quarter touchdown
But
many modifiers are not hyphenated when they
occur after a noun:
 The
team scored in the first quarter.
Hyphens
 Compound
modifiers:
Exceptions:
Do not use with “very” and all
adverbs ending in ’ly.
 Freshly
mowed grass; a very good time
Hyphens
 Other
uses:
 Compound proper nouns: Italian-American
 (but not as adjectives: Latin American)
 To avoid duplicated letters: pre-empt
 To separate figures in scores, ratios, votes, etc.
 Argos won, 24-7.
 For suspensive hyphenation:
 He received a 10- to 20-year sentence.
Hyphens
 Other
uses:
Words ending in maker are not
hyphenated.
Drugmaker, peacemaker, filmmaker
Hyphens
 Other
uses:
Words ending in maker are not
hyphenated.
Drugmaker, peacemaker, filmmaker
Words ending in wide are not hyphenated.
Citywide, statewide, worldwide
Hyphens
 Hyphen
use is far from standardized.
First
check the individual entry in the
Stylebook…
If
not listed, use the first entry in Webster’s New
World College Dictionary.
 There
are many exceptions and special rules.
Always look it up if you have any question.