Colons and semi-colons-is this correct!?
Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 1:52 pm
Can I just clarify that what I'm teaching about punctuation is correct!
Semi colons
I think you should use a semi colon when linking two sentences together which are closely connected but could be replaced by a full stop. The second sentence must be a stand-alone sentence in its own right.
Semi colons can also be used in lists where part of the list may have more than one word, eg I have been to New York, America; Paris, France; Madrid, Spain and Edinburgh, Scotland.
Colons
These can be used after names in playscripts (Macbeth: I have a feeling it's all going to go horribly wrong for me), or a list (I have packed the following: sleeping bag, torch, wellies and mug.)
They are also used to explain the first part of the sentence and often the two parts of the sentence are equally weighted, eg The battle was over at last: everyone was dead.
Or could you say... The battle was over at last; everyone was dead.
Hmmmm
Do you all agree with these and are there any other uses?
Semi colons
I think you should use a semi colon when linking two sentences together which are closely connected but could be replaced by a full stop. The second sentence must be a stand-alone sentence in its own right.
Semi colons can also be used in lists where part of the list may have more than one word, eg I have been to New York, America; Paris, France; Madrid, Spain and Edinburgh, Scotland.
Colons
These can be used after names in playscripts (Macbeth: I have a feeling it's all going to go horribly wrong for me), or a list (I have packed the following: sleeping bag, torch, wellies and mug.)
They are also used to explain the first part of the sentence and often the two parts of the sentence are equally weighted, eg The battle was over at last: everyone was dead.
Or could you say... The battle was over at last; everyone was dead.
Hmmmm
Do you all agree with these and are there any other uses?