In the next section, we’ll share examples of semicolons used correctly so you can successfully use them in your writing. You need to be thoughtful about your semicolon placements. How ever you use semicolons, you need to keep in mind that it is NOT interchangeable with periods or commas.
#USE OF A COLOL SERIAL#
You can expect to see semicolons separating serial lists and used with conjunctive adverbs. Essentially, it takes the place of using a conjunction such as “and.” This means that if you want to use a semicolon in a sentence, you’ll have to delete the conjunction. Either spelling is acceptable, and for this post, we’ll use the semicolon spelling.Ī semicolon is mainly used to join two independent clauses together that are related in thought. You may see a semicolon spelled as semi-colon. Here are a couple of examples.Ī semicolon is a punctuation mark that looks similar to a colon, but instead of two even dots, the bottom piece looks like a comma, like this: Colons can separate two independent clauses when they are directly related, or the emphasis needs to be placed on the second clause.
They can also add emphasis to an independent clause. Here’s an example.Ĭolons don’t have to introduce a list or a quotation. This one is added for clarification.Ĭolons can also introduce a quotation in your writing. The colon in the next example isn’t used to announce a list, like the one above. Using a colon in a sentence before a list gives the impression that the colon means “thus,” “which is” or “which are.” A colon can also be used to introduce an independent sentence. In addition to lists, they often introduce the start of a quotation, block quotation, or explanation. Colons add emphasis and clarity to your writing.Ĭolons are used to separate two independent clauses when one explains the other. It looks like this :Ĭolons are often used to introduce a list, but that’s not all they can do! Think of a colon as a flashing sign that points to your text. What is a colon?Ī colon is a punctuation mark consisting of two dots, one placed above the other. In this post, we shed light on colons, semicolons, and dashes so you can use them correctly in your writing. They’re often used interchangeably when they shouldn’t be. Colons, semicolons, and dashes are three powerful punctuation marks with a lot of misunderstanding behind them.
0 kommentar(er)
