The Semicolon (;) and the Colon (:)

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to: identify a dependent and independent clause, subject, predicate, conjunction, and conjunctive adverb (and yes, you’ll know how to properly use a semi-colon).

Background information A semi-colon can be used to join two independent clauses. What’s a clause? It is a group of words with a subject (who or what it’s about) and a predicate (verb or action). An independent clause makes sense on its own, (for example … The game was over.). A dependent clause has to borrow some info to make sense, (for example … After the game was over). You’re waiting for info to know what happened. You can’t use a semi-colon with dependent clauses.

More Semi-colons can’t be used with a conjunction. They feud and shoot guns at each other! What’s a conjunction? It’s a joining word like, “and”, “because” or “but”. You can have two independent clauses with a comma and a conjunction between them. It’s another choice you have as a writer. Warning, semi-colons hate conjunctions, but commas and conjunctions have love affairs! Example… I love cats, but I like dogs more.

1st use of a Semicolon The first appropriate use of the semicolon is to connect two related sentences. The pattern looks like this: Complete sentence  + ; +  complete sentence . Here is an example: My eighty-one-year-old grandmother still rides her Harley motorcycle; her toy poodle balances in a basket between the handlebars.

2nd Use of a Semicolon You can also team up a semicolon with a transition to connect two complete sentences that are close in meaning. The pattern looks like this:  Complete sentence  + ; +  transition  + , +  complete sentence . Check out this example: My father does not approve of his mother cruising around town on a Harley motorcycle; however, Grandma has never cared what anyone thinks.

Don’t feel sorry for the lonely semi-colon Don’t feel sorry for the lonely semi-colon. He loves to flirt with conjunctive adverbs. Besides joining two independent clauses by itself, a semi-colon can also be used with a conjunctive adverb between those two independent clauses. You can join a semi-colon with a conjunctive adverb. Conjunctive adverbs are words that join whole clauses to each other and indicate the nature of the connection. Sounds like romance eh?

Need some examples?. Conjunctive adverbs you might use are: however, therefore, consequently, moreover, besides, instead, furthermore, hence, nevertheless, otherwise 1. We went to Elliott’s house; nevertheless, we had a good time. 2. Ellen took cough syrup; consequently, she stopped hacking in class. Ellen, consequently, stopped hacking in class.

3rd Use of a Semicolon Finally, use the semicolon to avoid confusion when you have complicated lists of items. The pattern looks like this:  Item  + , +  More Information  + ; +  Item  + , +  More Information  + ; + and +  Item  + , +  More Information Read the following example: On a Harley motorcycle, my grandmother and her poodle have traveled to Anchorage, Alaska; San Francisco, California; and Tijuana, Mexico.

The semi –colon has 3 main uses: It joins two main clauses when there is no conjunction. For example…My mother is Korean; my father is German. It joins 2 independent clauses when a conjunctive adverb is used between the clauses. For example… You are ill; therefore you should stay home. For clearer separation, the semi-colon is used to separate complicated unrelated items. For example…We had visitors from: Goderich, Ontario; Gull Bay, Newfoundland; Winston, Quebec; and Seoul, South Korea.

Reminders about Semicolon Use Keep these three things in mind when you use a semicolon:  The two main clauses that the semicolon joins should be closely related in meaning.  Don't capitalize the word that follows the semicolon unless that word is a proper noun, one that is always capitalized.  Limit your use of semicolons; you should not scatter them throughout your writing. Semicolons are like glasses of champagne; save them for special occasions.

Use a Colon… after a complete statement in order to introduce one or more directly related ideas, such as a series of directions, a list, or a quotation or other comment illustrating or explaining the statement. For Example: The ideals of democracy haven proven to be unfair: they impede on citizens natural rights as human beings.

…to introduce a list… The daily newspaper contains four sections: news, sports, entertainment, and classified ads.

between the hour and minutes. He said he would be at home by 5:30 p.m.

between chapter and verse in biblical references. He always liked to refer to Genesis 1:18 when starting a speech.

Practice We study therefore we make good marks. 2. I love Italian food Lasagna is my favorite. 3. I have several vehicles a Ford Mustang a Chevrolet Camaro a Lincoln Zephyr a Cadillac Escalade and a Mercedes-Benz SLK Class Roadster.

This is how each usage and placement looks: We went to the store; we bought ties. We went to the store; consequently, we bought ties. We went to the store, and we bought ties. We went to the store. We bought ties.

Quiz 1.What is a conjunction? Give an example. 2.What’s the difference between a dependent clause and an independent clause? 3.What is a subject? 4.What is a predicate? 5.Which punctuation hates conjunctions? 6. Which punctuation loves conjunctions? 7.What is our formula for using a transition in a sentence? 8. Which punctuation loves conjunctive adverbs?