Semicolons and Colons

​Semicolons and Colons

Lesson 38​

Semicolons: Connecting Two Independent Clauses

Rule 1: Use a semicolon to join two simple sentences, if you choose not to use a comma and a conjunction.

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Semicolons: Connecting Two Independent Clauses

For example...​

• Josh likes to read about missionary pilots, but Danny prefers to read stories about the sea.

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• Josh likes to read about missionary pilots; Danny prefers to read stories about the sea.​

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Multiple Choice

Semicolons can be used to connect:

• Two sentence fragments

• Two complete thoughts

• One sentence fragment and one complete thought

Multiple Choice

Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?

• Waffles are better than pancakes; they don't get soggy as quickly.

• Waffles are better than pancakes; and they don't get soggy as quickly.

• Waffles are better than pancakes because; they don't get soggy as quickly.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?

• We packed a lunch; hoping for good weather.

• Looking at the clouds; we knew a storm was brewing.

• It rained heavily during the afternoon; however, we managed to have our picnic.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is written CORRECTLY?

• I ate too much, therefore; I got a stomachache.

• I ate too much therefore: I got a, stomachache.

• I ate too much; therefore, I got a stomachache.

• I ate too much therefore: I got a; stomachache.

Semicolons: Using a semicolon AND conjunction

• ​Rule 2: Use a semicolon and a conjunction rather than a comma and a conjunction to join two simple sentences if those sentences already contain commas.

• Using a semicolon with the conjunction will prevent a misreading of your sentence.

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Semicolon Rule 2: Using a semicolon AND conjunction

• ​Jake chose Bill, Joe, and Andy, and Phil chose Tim, Mark, and Tony.

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• It is difficult to tell where the first sentence ends in the example above.

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Semicolon Rule 2: Using a semicolon AND conjunction

• ​Instead, use a semicolon to indicate the end of the first sentence.

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• Jake chose Bill, Joe, and Andy; and Phil chose Tim, Mark, and Tony.​

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Multiple Choice

Donnie likes Jack, Tommy, and Stephen; and Daniel likes Samuel, Brian, and Scott.

This sentence above is punctuated correctly.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Samantha is in a group with Sara, Angela, and Tamara and Leann is in a group with Lydia, Melissa, and Tonya.

• a period after Tamara

• a semicolon after the second "and"

• a semicolon before the second "and"

• a comma after Tamara

Colons:

• ​Use a colon before a list of items often introduced by such words as the following or as follows.

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• Do not use a colon directly after a verb if the colon separates the verb from a complement.​

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Colons: For Lists

• ​Wrong: Go to the store and buy: hot dogs, potato salad, and baked beans.

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• Right: Go to the store and buy the following: hot dogs, potato salad, and baked beans.

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Colons: For Lists

• Do not use a colon directly after a preposition if it separates the preposition from its object.

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• Wrong: The cake was made from: flour, sugar, butter, and bananas.

• Right: The cake was made from the following items: flour, sugar, butter, and bananas.

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Multiple Choice

Our class studied the following countries China, Japan, and Russia.

• after the word studied

• after the word countries

Multiple Choice

You will need to have the following items for the trip a tent, a lantern, matches, and a compass.

• after the word items

• after the word trip

Multiple Choice

We went to the store and bought bread, milk, and eggs.

• bought,

• bought;

• bought:

• No punctuation needed after bought

Colons: For the Time

• Use a colon between the hour and the minute of a time reference.

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  We usually wake up at 5:30 each morning.

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