Welcome!
Welcome to the Learning Commons Quick Start Guide on Colons and Semicolons!
Difficulty with navigating the correct use of colons and semicolons is a common experience in Academic Writing. Many people struggle to identify when and when not to use colons and semicolons. If you are struggling, know that you are in good company! This guide will explain:
- When and how to use a colon
- When and how to use a semicolon
Colons and Semicolons 101
Course Information
Course Level: Beginner
Time to Complete: <15 mins
Perfect for: Students in WRTG100/101, ENGL103/104, or anyone who needs a refresher.
Guide Creator: Lael Louw
These videos serve as a primer on when to use a colon and when to use a semicolon:
- Colons introduce information that serves to elaborate
- Semicolons relate two independent clauses
- Colons introduce a list
- Semicolons separate complex items within a list
In this mini-course we explore this in more detail:
Elaboration and Explanation
The colon is mainly a mark of introduction: It signals that the words following will explain or amplify the meaning of the preceding clause.
A colon is always preceded by a complete main clause—one containing a subject and predicate and not starting with a subordinating word.
Be aware of a common mistake that arises when using a colon to join two clauses: If the information following the colon would be a complete sentence on its own, it must begin with a capital letter.
Examples:
- Hydrology has a deceptively simple definition: the study of water.
- A more precise definition might be the following: the study of the movement of water on or over land, its flows and gathers, its evaporations and condensations, its interactions with landforms like deltas and coastlines.
- Canada has one salient feature: namely, the longest coastline.
- The plot is founded on deception: The protagonist has a secret identity.
- The test was in three minutes: I had to run to class.
- The evidence could only mean one thing: The butler was guilty.
Introducing Lists
A colon can also be used to introduce a list of items but not if the list is grammatically essential to the wording of the sentence.
Examples:
- Incorrect: The three assigned topics for your essay on Infinite Jest are: tennis, lenses, and mathematics.
- Correct: These are the three assigned topics for your essay on Infinite Jest: tennis, lenses, and mathematics.
More Examples:
- The musicology syllabus includes three genres: jazz, blues, and hip-hop.
- Canada has long coastal boundaries on three oceans: the Pacific, the Arctic, and the Atlantic.
- There are three types of people in the world: those who can count and those who can’t.
- In the drawer I found two things: a letter and a yellow notebook.
Your Turn: Test Your Understanding
Think you have a grasp of the information above? Test yourself!
Semicolons and Conjunctions
Semicolons mark a stronger separation than commas. They are commonly used in a sentence to link two or more independent clauses not joined by a conjunction. Remember that an independent clause is a whole thought or sentence that contains a subject and a verb. Use a semicolon between main clauses not joined by and, but, or another coordinating conjunction.
Examples:
- The side effects are not minor; some leave the patient quite ill.
- Don’t touch the stove; it’s hot.
- The dog buried his bone in the backyard; he returned the next day to dig it up.
- I hate salad; she loves salad.
- My father always let me go to the park when I finished my homework; my friend’s father did not.
Use a semicolon and a comma (after the conjunctive adverb) to join two closely related independent clauses with a conjunctive adverb (e.g., however, therefore, rather, thus, in fact, etc.).
Examples:
- Most students now use computers to print their essays; however, many still prefer to compose with pen and paper.
- Most students now use computers to print their essays; many still prefer, however, to compose with pen and paper.
- Most students now use computers to print their essays; many still prefer to compose with pen and paper, however.
- I hate salad; however, she loves salad.
- My father always let me go to the park when I finished my homework; conversely, my friend’s father did not.
Your Turn: Test Your Understanding!
Semicolons with Series and Lists
Use semicolons to separate items in a series if they contain commas. In some cases, it is a good idea to separate lists with semi-colons if the items are very long and complex—even if they do not contain any internal punctuation.
Examples:
- Letter, Number Sets:
- The answers to the test are 1, D; 2, B; 3, A; 4, D; 5, C; and 6, A.
- Noun, Description Sets:
- The winners were surprising: Amy, who placed last during the first test; Connor, who was sick for most of the semester; and Tamar, who has been sleeping through practice recently.
- City, State Sets:
- Mary has lived in Los Angeles, California; Seattle, Washington; and Portland, Oregon.
- Long Items:
- Joseph has several personal conflicts that he hopes to address with his therapist including his relationship with his ex-wife upon her agreement to a shared custody arrangement for their two children; his hopes to be promoted in his position at the accounting firm that just hired him last month; his desire to be a more compassionate and patient father to his children despite the dissolution of his marriage; and his hopes to develop a more robust spirituality through learning new parenting skills. (https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/semicolons/semicolon-use-in-lists/)
Your Turn: Test Your Understanding!
Wrap-up and self-check
Additonal Resources
See the below list of links for additional support:
If you would like to talk any of this through then we look forward to talking to you. Book an appointment!