–SEMICOLONS AND COLONS–
Colons
There’s one more way a semicolon is used to separate:
Colons That Introduce ■
Use a semicolon to separate items in a series if the items contain commas. Unlike items in a series separated by commas, a semicolon is used even when there is a conjunction. Examples: The dates we are considering for our annual party are Thursday, June 5; Saturday, June 7; Sunday, June 8; or Monday, June 9. When we go to the lake, I am sure to take a pizza pan, a popcorn popper, and pancake griddle; fishing tackle, life jackets, and ski equipment; and puzzles, cards, board games, and my guitar. The expansion committee is considering locations in Columbus, Ohio; Orange, California; Minton, Tennessee; and Jacksonville, Florida.
Practice
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Practice what you’ve learned by adding semicolons where they are needed in the following sentences. You will find the answers at the end of this lesson. 1. I need a break I’ve been working for five hours straight. 2. The storm was torrential it hammered the small town with high winds and heavy rain. 3. We had no problem meeting the deadline however, we were still able to find ways of streamlining production. 4. It was a typical Saturday afternoon of washing clothes vacuuming and mopping the floors changing all the bed sheets and grocery shopping.
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Use a colon to introduce a list of items, as long as the part before the colon is already a complete sentence. Examples: These people were cast in the play: Andrea, Horatio, Thom, Alley, and Benito. We packed these items for the trip: cameras, dress clothes, scuba equipment, and beach wear. Do not use a colon if the list of items complements a verb; in other words, if it completes the meaning begun by the verb. Look at the previous sample sentences rewritten in such a way that a colon is not necessary. Examples: The people cast in the play were Kristin, Horatio, Thom, Alley, and Benito. For our trip, we packed cameras, dress clothes, scuba equipment, and beach wear. Use a colon to introduce a formal quotation. Example: John F. Kennedy ended the speech with these notable words: “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.” Use a colon to emphasize a word, phrase, or clause that adds particular emphasis to the main body of a sentence. Again, the part before the colon should already be a complete sentence. Examples: The financial problems our company has been experiencing have been caused by one thing: poor planning. We were missing a vital piece of information: how the basic product design differed from last year’s model.
5. Paige left some of the confidential documents sitting on her desk at work consequently, she worried about their safety all night long. 56
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