Colons and Semicolons (Colons)

Colons Use a colon after an independent clause to draw attention to a list, an appositive (a list that defines a noun phrase), or a quotation. Use a colon when listing multiple items, especially after the phrase “the following” A typical day in the life of a camp counselor consists of the following: wake-up call; morning activities; lunch; teaching afternoon activities; dinner; and participating in evening activities. A colon can be used as an appositive. You will typically find this setup at the end of a sentence. Jennifer likes two out of the three boys in our class: Rocky and Steven. Colons are also one of the ways to introduce directly quoted material. Consider the words of Norton Juster: “It’s all in the way you look at things.” Use a colon between independent clauses only if the second summarizes or explains the first. Life is like a box of chocolates: You never know what you are going to get. Note: When an independent clause follows a colon, it may begin with either a capital letter or a lowercase letter. Use a colon after the salutation in a formal letter, to indicate hours and minutes, to show proportions, between a title and a subtitle, and between city and publisher in bibliographic entries. Example: Dear Madam: The game will begin at 7:00 p.m. The ratio of Republicans to Democrats was 2:1 The Years of Lyndon Johnson: Master of the Senate Davis, Anita. What is a Book? New York: Walker, 2002. Print. Semicolons Use a semicolon between independent clauses not joined by the following coordinating conjunctions: and, but, or, nor, for, yet. Example: Yesterday the students prepared for the calculus test; they covered the first five chapters. Writers should only use a semicolon in this instance if the two clauses are so closely related that a period would make too distinct a break between them. Use a semicolon between independent clauses linked with such transitional expressions as: for example, for instance, that is, besides, accordingly, moreover, nevertheless, furthermore, otherwise, therefore, however, consequently, instead, hence. Example: Some Victorian writers exhibit ambiguous attitudes toward women; for example, Wilkie Collins both elevates and criticizes the female sex in his novel The Woman in White. If the transitional expressions mentioned above are found at the beginning of a clause and are clear interrupters, they should be followed by a comma. The transitional expressions for example, for instance, and that is are always followed by a comma. However is almost always followed by a comma. Use a semicolon between items in a series if the items themselves contain commas. Example: Legendary ballerinas of The New York City Ballet include Maria Tallchief, Principal Dancer from 1946 to 1960; Suzanne Farrell, Principal Dancer from 1965 to 1983; and Darci Kistler, Principal Dancer from 1982 to the present year. Use a semicolon between items in a list that follows a colon. Example: The 1996 Chicago Bulls had a steady starting line-up: Michael Jordan; Scottie Pippen; Ron Harper; Dennis Rodman; and Luc Longley.