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PUNCTUATION! . A colon is a punctuation mark that is used to introduce a list in a sentence or a quote, to separate two major parts of a sentence, to indicate a ratio (such as 1:2) or a time (8:15). For example: These students were on the honor roll: Lisa, Jason, and Jessica.
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A colon is a punctuation mark that is used to introduce a list in a sentence or a quote, to separate two major parts of a sentence, to indicate a ratio (such as 1:2) or a time (8:15). For example: These students were on the honor roll: Lisa, Jason, and Jessica
The Colon: a sentence gateway The colon comes at a point in the sentence where the sentence could come to a complete stop. I’m going to tell you the names of my favorite breakfast foods. We could even put a period after the word “foods,” couldn’t we? In fact, we did.
The Colon: a sentence gateway I’m going to tell you the names of my favorite breakfast foods: cereal, hash browns, pancakes, and sausage.
The Colon: a sentence gateway My favorite breakfast foods are cereal, hash browns, pancakes, and sausage. Would I use a colon in the sentence above? No, because the sentence does not come to a halt here. Instead, the sentence flows right into the list. A colon would not be appropriate here.
The Colon: a sentence gateway Examine this next sentence carefully. Our math tutor wants just one thing from us that we try our best. Here, we have an independent thought (ending with “us”). followed by another kind of completer (a noun clause).
The Colon: a sentence gateway To set off this completer, this explanation, we can use a colon. Our math tutor wants just one thing from us: that we try our best. These are the two main uses of the colon: to set off a list or an explanation that we know is about to follow the main part of the sentence.
The Colon: a sentence gateway We also use the colon to set off a formal quotation. Shoes: $50. Backpack: $40 School Supplies: $75. Waking up late and missing the bus on the first day: Priceless
The Colon: a sentence gateway Just remember that you usually know what is going to follow a colon: a list, an explanation, or a formal quotation. CONGRATULATIONS! You have now mastered the uses of the colon, a very handy device in the punctuation of your sentences.
Our Friend, the Semicolon Let’s begin with a simple sentence: Grandma stays up too late.
Our Friend, the Semicolon Now let’s expand on that a bit: Grandma stays up too late. She’s afraid she’s going to miss something. This is OK. Two independent ideas, separated by a period.
Our Friend, the Semicolon What if we try to combine the two ideas? Grandma stays up too late, she’s afraid she’s going to miss something. Something’s wrong. We connected two independent clauses with only a comma. The dreaded COMMA SPLICE!
Our Friend, the Semicolon We could insert a coordinating conjunction: Grandma is afraid she’ll miss something, so she stays up too late. This is better! Note the comma that accompanies the coordinating conjunction.
Our Friend, the Semicolon We could also try subordinating one of these ideas: Grandma stays up too late because she’s afraid she’s going to miss something. Notice that the comma disappeared. One idea (the second one) now depends on the other; it has become a dependent clause.
Our Friend, the Semicolon But let’s try something else. ENTER THE SEMICOLON !
Our Friend, the Semicolon Let’s try using a semicolon in this sentence. Grandma stays up too late; she’s afraid she’s going to miss something. Notice there is no conjunction used with this semicolon – either subordinating or coordinating. Just the semicolon, all by itself.
Our Friend, the Semicolon Sometimes semicolons are accompanied by conjunctive adverbs – words such as however, moreover, therefore, nevertheless, consequently, as a result. Grandma is afraid she’s going to miss something; as a result, she stays up too late.
Our Friend, the Semicolon Notice the pattern: ; as a result, semicolon + conjunctive adverb + comma This is a typical construction with semicolons.
Our Friend, the Semicolon There is one other use of the semicolon: to help us sort out monster lists, like this one: The committee included Peter Wursthorn, Professor of Mathematics, from Marlborough, Connecticut, Virginia Villa, Professor of English, from Hartford, Connecticut, Paul Creech, Director of Rad-Tech, from Essex, Connecticut, and Joan Leach, Professor of Nursing, from Farmington, Connecticut.
Our Friend, the Semicolon Be careful where you insert semicolons in this sentence. The committee included Peter Wursthorn, Professor of Mathematics, from Marlborough, Connecticut; Virginia Villa, Professor of English, from Hartford, Connecticut ; Paul Creech, Director of Rad-Tech, from Essex, Connecticut ; and Joan Leach, Professor of Nursing, from Farmington, Connecticut.
Dashes Are Used for Four Reasons • To show a break in speech. • To emphasize when there is an abrupt interruption in a sentence. • To signal change in a thought. • To set off a though that strays away from what you originally started to talk about.
To Show A Break in Speech • Example: • You—You don’t know anything about me! • I—I Can do it too!
To emphasize when there is an abrupt interruption in a sentence. • Example • Everyone was in awe as I did a pushup--with one arm--on a ledge. • The crowd marveled as the circus performer—with one finger—lifted fifty pounds.
To signal change in a thought. • Example • The all you can eat shrimp—supposedly the restaurants special- was very disappointing.
To set off a though that strays away from what you originally started to talk about. • When playing Hide and Seek we desperately searched everywhere—up in trees, under cars, behind houses– to find our friend Aaliyah.
En & Em Dash • There are many uses of the en and em dash and also many ways to form these dashes using your computer. The following explanations offer the most common uses and methods for forming these dashes. • You may be asking yourself, “What is a En, and Em dash”, and I’m here to tell you. • An en dash, roughly the width of an n, is a little longer than a hyphen. It is used for periods of time when you might otherwise use to. Such As “1995-2012”. An en dash is also used in place of a hyphen when combining open compounds. Such as “a high school- college conference.” • An em dash is the width of an m. Use an em dash sparingly in formal writing. In informal writing, em dashes may replace commas, semicolons, colons, and parentheses to indicate added emphasis, an interruption, or an abrupt change of thought. Such as “I pay the bills—she has all the fun”, or “I need three items at the store—dog food, vegetarian chili, and cheddar cheese.”
