# 12. Punctuation -- The Colon and Semicolon

THE COLON

1.  The colon introduces the following:

a.  A list, but only after "as follows," "the following," or a noun for which the list is an appositive:

Each scout will carry the following: (colon) meals for three days, a survival knife, and his sleeping bag.
The company had four new officers: (colon) Bill Smith, Frank Tucker, Peter Fillmore, and Oliver Lewis.

b.  A long quotation (one or more paragraphs):

In The Killer Angels Michael Shaara wrote: (colon)

You may find it a different story from the one you learned in school. There have been many versions of that battle [Gettysburg] and that war [the Civil War].

(The quote continues for two more paragraphs.)

c.  A formal quotation or question:

The President declared: (colon) "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."
The question is: (colon) what can we do about it?

d.  A second independent clause which explains the first:

Potter's motive is clear: (colon) he wants the assignment.

e.  After the introduction of a business letter:

Dear Sirs: (colon)
Dear Madam: (colon)

f.  The details following an announcement

For sale: (colon) large lakeside cabin with dock

g.  A formal resolution, after the word "resolved:"

Resolved: (colon) That this council petition the mayor.

h.  The words of a speaker in a play:

Macbeth: (colon) She should have died hereafter.

2.  The colon separates the following:

a.  Parts of a title, reference, or numeral:

Principles of Mathematics: (colon) An Introduction
Luke 3: (colon)4-13
8: (colon)15 a.m.

b.  The place of publication from the publisher, and the volume number from the pages in bibliographies:

Miller, Jonathan, The Body in Question. New York: (colon) Random House, 1978.

Jarchow, Elaine. "In Search of Consistency in Composition Scoring." English Record 23.4 (1982): (colon) 18--19.

THE SEMICOLON

1.  Semicolons can join closely related independent clauses which are not joined by a coordinating conjunction.

Since the mid-1970's America's campuses have been relatively quiet; (semicolon)  today's students seem interested more in courses than causes.

2.  Semicolons punctuate two independent clauses joined by a conjunctive adverb.

On weekdays the club closes at eleven; (semicolon) however, on weekends it's open until one.

3.  Semicolons punctuate clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction when the clauses have commas within them.

Today people can buy what they need from department stores, supermarkets, and discount stores; (semicolon) but in Colonial days, when such conveniences did not exist, people depended on general stores and peddlers.

4.  Semicolons punctuate items in a series when there are commas within the series.

At the alumni dinner, I sat with the school's best-known athlete, Gary Wyckoff; (semicolon) the editor of the paper; (semicolon) two stars of the class play, a fellow and a girl who later married each other; (semicolon) and Tad Frump, the class clown.

Last updated 15 July 2008