When to use a colon

The colon is a very useful punctuation mark. It most often is used to replace the word “because.” In technical terms, the colon is used between independent clauses when the second is an explanation for the first. (A clause is a group of words that belong together; an independent clause is a group of words that have a subject and a verb.)

Example: “The colon is one of my favorite English tools: it helps keep my word count down and it organizes my thoughts.” Instead of ”The colon is one of my favorite English tools because it helps keep my word count down and it organizes my thoughts.”

The colon may be used to introduce a list. While it is not necessary to use a colon before a list, it often helps to make the list stand out. Make sure you never use a colon directly after a verb or preposition.

Bad Example: “A few of my favorite things are: raindrops on roses, whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles, and warm woolen mittens.”

Better Example: “These are a few of my favorite things: raindrops on roses, whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles, and warm woolen mittens.”

Sometimes the colon is used to formally introduce a statement or quote. More often these things are introduced with a simple “said,” (So-n-so said, “blah, blah, blah”). But sometimes formal writing requires a colon.

Example: “Benjamin Franklin once made this statement: ‘A great empire, like a great cake, is most easily diminished at the edges.’”

If this article has helped you, or if you have other questions about this topic, please let me know. Thanks!

When to use a semicolon

The semicolon should be one of the strongest punctuation marks in the English language. It may just be my Grammarian Opinion, of course, but I think the semicolon is the least understood mark of all. What is the purpose of this cool little sign? When is it needed and when is it in the way? To understand the semicolon, you’ll need to understand independent clauses.

Hold the phone! “Independent clauses”?!? What is a clause? What’s an independent clause?? Why does English have to be so complicated?

To work our way backwards, English is complicated because it’s really an art and a skill. That, and it’s a rather old, rather widely used language with a fascinating history. An independent clause is a clause that could stand on its own: it has a subject and a verb. A clause is a group of words that belong together. There’s more to learn about clauses and independent clauses, but that’s another lesson.

The semicolon is most often used to join two independent clauses. All punctuation is a substitute for a small group of words that could get redundant and annoying if left unsubstituted. The semicolon is used to substitute coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, nor, for, yet) and the comma before them.

Example: “Walking is great exercise; I can’t seem to hit the treadmill after a long day.” Instead of “Walking is great exercise for the heart, but I can’t seem to hit the treadmill after a long day.”

Another time you might use the semicolon is if your clauses (independent or not) have commas in them.

Example: “Some of the best exercises are easy and fun: walking, running, or biking; swimming, either in a pool or a pond; rowing a boat, or using a paddle boat; even walking the dog.”

One very important thing to remember: the semicolon is a strong, meaningful punctuation mark. If you are not sure whether you should use it, don’t. It has the potential to change the message you mean to give.

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Ending Punctuation and Quotation Marks

Using ending punctuation with quotation marks can be very confusing. It can also be easily explained. There are four possible ending marks you can use with punctuation: the period, the ellipsis, the question mark, and the exclamation point. The first two ALWAYS go inside quotation marks. The last two SOMETIMES go inside quotation marks. Let me expound a bit.

ALWAYS INSIDE

The period always goes inside the quotation marks. It looks better that way. The period is so small and insecure that feels awkward just hanging out on its own. See “Yes.” looks better than “No”. Inside the quotation marks, the period is safe and secure. Outside, he looks like he might just fall off. A word of advice: “Don’t separate the poor period from his letters.”

The ellipsis always goes inside the  quotation marks. Consider the purpose of the ellipsis: to indicate missing sections of a quote. If the ellipsis belongs in a quote, it should never be outside the quote. One thing to remember: “If the ellipsis is at the end of the quote, there should be four dots….”

SOMETIMES INSIDE

The question mark and the exclamation point go inside the quotation marks only when they are part of the quote. These two punctuation marks are the party crashers, the emotional marks, the fair-weather friends. When they can be applied to the quote, they’ll jump right in. When they apply to the overall sentence, they prefer to stand out. If left inside, no further ending punctuation is needed.

Examples: Who said, “Punctuation is easy”? I’d say, “Punctuation is frustration!”

When you get to know your ending punctuation, you might say “I never knew punctuation could be so moody.” But then again, maybe you did know.

If this article has helped you, or if you have other questions about this topic, please let me know. Thanks!