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Colon and Semicolon. Alex Carmeli. The Colon: Used to make a list . Use a colon before a list that is preceded by a clause that can stand alone.
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Colon and Semicolon Alex Carmeli
The Colon:Used to make a list • Use a colon before a list that is preceded by a clause that can stand alone. • § *The charter review committee now includes the following people: the mayor, the chief of police, the fire chief or the chair of the town council. • * The potion contained some exotic ingredients: snail eyes, bat tongues and garlic.
The Colon: Separates a clause from a quotation • One will often use a colon to separate an independent clause from a quotation. • *The acting director often used her favorite quotation from Shakespeare's Tempest: "We are such stuff as dreams are made on; and our little life is rounded with a sleep.“ • *The director often used her favorite quotation from Monty Python: 'I wasn't expecting the Spanish Inquisition.’
The Colon:Used to introduce an idea • It is used to introduce an idea that is an explanation or continuation of the one that comes before the colon. • ¡ The colon can be considered as a gateway inviting the reader to go on. • ¡ It is important to note that the clause that comes before the colon can stand alone and make complete sense on its own • § * There is one thing you need to know about coleslaw: it looks and tastes like slurry.
The Semicolon:Used to organize complicated lists • The semicolon can be used to sort out a complicated list containing many items, many of which themselves contain commas. • * In the meeting today we have Professor Wilson, University of Barnsley; Dr Watson, University of Barrow in Furness; Colonel Custard, Metropolitan Police and Dr Mable Syrup, Genius General, University of Otago, New Zealand.
The Semicolon:Used to separate closely related independent clauses • The semicolon is also used to connect two closely-related independent clauses. • § * Terry always slept with the light on; he was afraid of the dark. • § * Deena always drank beer; she was an alcoholic.
Assessment • 1) Which of these is correct? • a) You have only one choice: Leave now while you can. • b) You have only one choice leave now while you can. • c) You have only one choice. Leave now while you can.
Assessment • 2) Which of these is correct? • a) I can see only one thing: the old lighthouse. • b) I can see only one thing the old lighthouse. • c) I can see: only one thing the old lighthouse.
Assessment • 3) Which of these sentences uses the semicolon correctly? • § A) Greece is a beautiful country; lovely beaches and friendly people. • § B) Greece is a beautiful country; the people are friendly and the beaches are empty. • § C) Greece is a beautiful country; olives are delicious.
Assessment Which sentence(s) require a semicolon? • a) Tim is emigrating to New Zealand _______ he is fed up with life in the UK. • b) Tim is emigrating to New Zealand _______ he loves the outdoor life. • c) Tim is emigrating to New Zealand _______ a beautiful country. • d) Tim is emigrating to New Zealand _______ he longs for a better life.
Assessment Pick the correctly punctuated sentences: • Give me: mushrooms, cheese, ham and coleslaw. • Bring me a huge breakfast: mushrooms, cheese, ham and coleslaw. • I love a huge breakfast: mushrooms, cheese, ham and coleslaw • I love: mushrooms, cheese, ham and coleslaw.
