Semicolons, Colons, and Commas

Learning Objectives: Employ correct use of semicolons in a sentence. Employ correct use of colons in a sentence. Employ correct use of commas with dates and addresses.

LESSON
In this lesson, you will learn how to correctly use semicolons(;) A punctuation mark used to connect major parts of sentences of equal grammatical rank. For example, semicolons are used to connect two independent clauses into one sentence. and colons(:) A punctuation mark that is used in three common cases: before a series of items; between an independent clause and an explanation, rule, or example; and before a quote. in your writing. You will also learn the correct way to use commas(,) A punctuation mark used to group and separate information in sentences. in dates and addresses.

Semicolons

A semicolon (;) looks like a combination of a period(.) A punctuation mark used to separate sentences. and a comma and is used in three different situations.

1. To join two independent clauses. You can use a semicolon like a period to join two independent clausesPart of a sentence that contains a subject and a predicate and can stand on its own as a complete sentence. Example independent clause: The boy ate the freshly picked apple with delight. The subject is the boy, the predicate is the verb ate, plus the modifiers the freshly picked apple with delight.; however, unlike a period, do not capitalizeTo use capital letters. the first letter of the second independent clause unless it is a proper nounThe name of a person place or thing. Proper nouns should be capitalized. Examples: person: George Washington; place: The White House; thing: The Washington Monument..

   For example:

   Writing is difficult work; it requires much time and effort.

   Good writers write multiple drafts of the same essay; furthermore, they always proofread an essay before they turn it in.

2. With conjunctive adverbs. Also use a semicolon before conjunctive adverbsA type of parenthetical expression; adverbs that join ideas together. Examples: also, first, however, next.—e.g., moreover, however, and nevertheless—if there is an independent clause on either side of the conjunctive adverb.

   Here is a list of some conjunctive adverbs:

   accordingly	finally	meanwhile	similarly
   also	furthermore	moreover	specifically
   anyway	hence	nevertheless	still
   besides	however	next	subsequently
   certainly	indeed	nonetheless	then
   consequently	instead	now	therefore
   conversely	likewise	otherwise	thus

   For example:

   It is wise to finish your homework immediately; however, for procrastinators, this is easier said than done.

   In the example above, the semicolon is necessary because there is a complete thought on either side of the conjunctive adverb. Note that conjunctive adverbs also require a comma after them.

   Procrastinators, however, can change their ways.

   In this example, a semicolon is not used because there is not an independent clause on either side of the conjunctive adverb. In this case, you should encase the conjunctive adverb in commas.

3. To delineate items in a list when the items already contain a comma. Generally, commas are used to separate three or more items in a series; however, when the items in the series already contain a comma, it is more effective to separate the items with semicolons. This avoids confusion.

   For example:

   The following sentenceA group of words, phrases, or clauses that expresses a complete thought. A complete sentence has these characteristics: a capitalized first word, a subject and a predicate, and end punctuation, such as a period (.), question mark (?), or exclamation mark (!). is unclear. See if you can tell if the group has four members or eight.

   Incorrect: The group included Mr. King, the president, Ms. Kennedy, the vice president, Mr. Green, the secretary, and Mrs. Brown, the treasurer.

   Now see how the sentence looks with semicolons in the list.

   Correct: The group included Mr. King, the president; Ms. Kennedy, the vice president; Mr. Green, the secretary; and Mrs. Brown, the treasurer.

   By adding semicolons to the sentence, the writer's meaning is clearer. The semicolons separate the people with their titles, so the reader can tell there are four people in the group.

Colons

Like a semicolon, a colon (:) also has three main uses.

1. Before a series of items. Use a colon when you want to introduce a list. Be sure that an independent clause precedes the colon. The colon should not split an independent clause. Additionally, do not use a colon directly after words like including, included, and such as.

   For example:

   Correct: I went to the store and bought a number of items: bananas, bread, chicken, lettuce, and ice.

   In this sentence, I went to the store and bought a number of items is an independent clause, so a colon precedes the list.

   Incorrect: I went to the store and bought: bananas, bread, chicken, lettuce, and ice.

   I went to the store and bought is not an independent clause, so a colon should not precede the list.

   Incorrect: I went to the store and bought all I needed, including: bananas, bread, chicken, lettuce, and ice.

   A colon should not be used after including.

   Another example:

   Correct: To apply for the job, I needed the following items: a completed application, cover letter, resume, and list of references.

   To apply for the job, I needed the following items is an independent clause, so a colon precedes the list.

   Incorrect: To apply for the job, I needed: a completed application, cover letter, resume, and list of references.

   To apply for the job, I needed is not an independent clause, so a colon should not precede the list.

   Another example:

   Correct: My teacher posted all the materials we needed to complete our assignment, including a guideline sheet, a citation guide, and a rubric.

   No colon is needed after including.

   Incorrect: My teacher posted all the materials we needed to complete our assignment, including: a guideline sheet, a citation guide, and a rubric.

   A colon should not be used after including.

2. Between an independent clause and an explanation, rule, or example. Use a colon when the second independent clause explains or otherwise fills in information raised in the first independent clause.

   For example:

   Now that your flowers are wilting, you can see what I mean: the summers here are far too warm.

   The summers here are far too warm gives more information about what the speaker is referring to when he says you can see what I mean. The colon is placed before the explanation that gives more information about the first clause.

3. Before a quote. You can use a colon to introduce a quote, especially a block quoteA copy of a long section of a text or speech, set off from the rest of a text. Block quotations, like direct quotations, are exact repeats of wording, but because of their length they are indented or printed in a different font rather than placed inside quotation marks. of more than three or four lines.

   For example:

   One can understand how cold it was from Hart's words: "The snow clung to the smallest twigs of every tree" (37).

   Since there are better ways of introducing shorter quotes, it is more common to use a colon to introduce longer quotes.

   In his journal, Hart paints a vivid portrait of the storm:

   The snow clung to the smallest twigs of every tree, and a thousand patterns of lace arrayed themselves against the night sky. It lay heaped up over tree roots like mounds of whipped cream and trimmed the back fence in unfurled rows of white silk ribbons (37).

   There are other uses for the colon that are less common, such as:

4. Before a subtitleA secondary part of a title, which often provides explanation or identifies different parts of a series. Example: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Use a colon to separate the title from the subtitle.

   For example:

   CSI: SVU

   Star Trek: The Next Generation

   Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead

5. After the salutation of a business letter. In a personal letter, you follow your salutationA greeting, such as Dear John or To whom it may concern at the beginning of a letter. (e.g. "Dear Tom") with a comma.  A business letter, however, requires a colon.

   For example:

   To whom it may concern:

   Dear Ms. Saunders:

   To the hiring manager:

Commas with Dates and Addresses

When incorporating dates, addresses, or portions of an address in your writing, it is important to know how to punctuate them correctly. Here are some rules to remember.

1. Do not use a comma between the month and the day of the month.

   For example:

   Incorrect: My son was born on April, 5.

   Correct: My son was born on April 5.

2. Commas are not used when only a month and a year are stated.

   For example:

   Incorrect: My son was born in April, 2009.

   Correct: My son was born in April 2009.

3. In addresses, commas are always used between a city and its state, and the state is followed by a comma unless it appears at the end of a sentence.

   For example:

   Incorrect: The conference is in Boston Massachusetts, which will probably be snowy at that time of the year.

   Correct: The conference is in Boston, Massachusetts, which will probably be snowy at that time of the year.

4. Do not use commas following cities when they are used alone. The same applies to states when used alone.

   For example:

   Incorrect: The conference is in Boston, and will probably be full, so it's best to register early.

   Correct: The conference is in Boston and will probably be full, so it's best to register early.

5. When writing street addresses, use commas after the street address and between the city and state abbreviation, but not between the state abbreviation and the zip code.

   For example:

   Incorrect: My new address is 52 Camilla Lane San Jose CA 95124.

   Correct: My new address is 52 Camilla Lane, San Jose, CA 95124.

6. Commas are used in dates between the day of the week; the month and day of the month; and the year. The exception to placing a comma after an address is when it is at the end of a sentence.

   For example:

   Incorrect: My son was born on Sunday April 5 2009 in Grand Junction Colorado, where we lived at the time.

   Correct: My son was born on Sunday, April 5, 2009, in Grand Junction, Colorado, where we lived at the time.

   In the corrected sentence, commas appear after the day of the week (Sunday), the month and the day of the year (April 5) and the year (2009) as well as a city (Grand Junction) and state (Colorado).

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