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.