Using commas, semicolons, and colons within sentences. After shopping for eight hours, i finally found them. Use a colon to introduce an item or a series of items. For beginners to more advanced students, this guide covers it all. Heres a different sentence in which you could use any of the three punctuation marks because it includes a clear, simple appositive, a noun or noun phrase that defines the noun that it came right before or after 2. In the example sentence weve been using about squigglys hobbies, a comma doesnt feel like the best choice to me. In a blog first published on august 11, 2007, i helped you understand how to use colons with lists.
On the other hand, if your leadin statement is a sentence fragment, i recommend that you dont use a colon. May 31, 2016 colons have a host of uses, but they mostly have in common that the colon acts to connect what precedes it with what follows. Everyone can be a great writer grammarly allows me to get those communications out and feel confident that im putting my best foot forward. Use these assessments to determine your understanding of the purpose of colons in grammar. A colon is like a literary equals sign as opposed to mathematical one, and a semicolon is like a half full stop or half period. The result is a landmark resource that will offer clear guidelines to students, writers, and editors alike. In this exercise you will have to decide which pairs of clauses can be connected with a semi colon. I can be a little annoyingly pedantic when it comes to grammar and usage.
Colon usage check with example i just need some clarification on whether the colon usage in this example is correct. See this grammar girl post on how to use semicolons and conjunctive adverbs, such as therefore. Previously published as part of grammar girl s quick and dirty tips for better writing online sensation grammar girl makes punctuation fun and easy in grammar girl s punctuation 911 mignon fogarty, a. Colons and semicolons should never be used interchangeably. The chicago guide to grammar, usage, and punctuation by bryan. Jul 24, 2012 mignon fogarty, better known as grammar girl, suggests a simple twopart rule in formatting vertical lists. The ultimate writing guide for students trade paperback. He wants to continue working, and the policy manual does not require it. Its no accident that a semicolon is a period atop a comma.
Our rule 1 of spacing with punctuation states, with a computer, use only one space following periods, commas, semicolons, colons, exclamation points, question marks, and quotation marks. So, what we dont know is that how to use colon usefully. Finally, you use a semicolon when you use a conjunctive adverb or transitional phrase to join two main clauses. I didnt have expectations about this book from the podcast because i only discovered grammar girl a few days before the book was released. Em dashes are often used to set off parenthetical information. Sometimes, you can also use a comma where youd use a dash or a colon. Use a colon to introduce a list that appears at the end of a sentence, say michael strumpf and auriel douglas in the grammar bible p. Semicolons, colons, and parentheses purdue writing lab. Colons should not be used after an incomplete sentence, also called a sentence fragment, to introduce additional detail. In american english, colons are more often followed by capital letters. A comma is used after the salutation in more informal correspondence. The four best grammar books available online verblio.
In this blog, id like to help you with other uses of the colon. Colon punctuation mark in english language and grammar. You can use a colon to introduce a single thing when you want to emphasize it. Thank you for your efforts to remind us of all those rules we were supposed to learn in grammar school. It usually follows an independent clause and should not separate a verb from its complement or a preposition from its object. A colon is used after a salutation greeting in a formal letter. A rule for using colons is to add one between a complete sentence and a list of items in the absence of introductory words. Associated press stylebook, you capitalize the first letter after a colon. The function of a colon is to separate two phrases or clauses when the second element amplifies or illustrates the first element. A semicolon or colon joining two independent clauses signals a connection between them. The chicago guide to grammar, usage, and punctuation is a magisterial work, the culmination of garners lifelong study of the english language. They will reacquaint you with precise punctuation, omniscient orthography, sagacious syntax and turn you into a grammar guru. These grammar books are perfect for all degrees of grammar nerd.
Heres a different sentence in which you could use any of the three punctuation marks because it includes a clear, simple appositive, a noun or noun phrase that defines the noun that it came right before or. No, meat doesnt rot in your colon, your stomach, or. Mignot fogarty, better known as grammar girl provides the public with an accessible reference on punctuation. Your interactive quizzes and videos are wonderfulshort, engaging, and focused. Use one before the parenthetical information and one after it.
In american english, colons are more often followed by capital. The colon often can be effective in giving emphasis. A colon usually does not precede a list unless it follows a complete sentence. The colon should be placed outside quotation marks. Fowlers a dictionary of modern english usage or karen elizabeth gordons the transitive vampire or both, really. To be successful in sales, one should do the following. Pop quizzes are scattered throughout to reinforce the explanations, as well as grammar girl. Do not capitalize the first item after the colon unless its a proper noun. If your leadin statement is a complete sentence, use a colon at the end to introduce your list.
Use the colon after a complete sentence to introduce a list of items when introductory words such as namely, for example, or that is do not apply or are not appropriate. Unlike the use of commas to combine very short sentences, semicolons are used for combining relatively longer sentences. The colon is one of the easiest punctuation marks to be learnt in the english language, because its use is very specific and easy to grasp. Given its function, it should have been called a semifull stop or a semiperiod. Presubmission basic grammar and style primer for childrens. Colons punctuation rules the blue book of grammar and. Use a colon if the attribution is a complete thought, as in smith summed up his viewpoint tersely. Like a semicolon, a colon can connect two independent clauses, but it has several other uses as well.
Its often useful to use a colon instead of a semicolon between two sentences when the second sentence explains or illustrates the first sentence and no coordinating conjunction is being used to connect the sentences. Appropriate for all ages, this authoritative guide makes learning english grammar and usage simple and enjoyable. Use a semicolon to create variety in your sentences, especially if you have a lot of choppy sentences in a row. Find out when to use dashes and when to use colons with grammar girls tips on dashes versus colons.
According to grammar girl, you can use a semicolon when you are joining two main clauses with a conjunctive adverb. Prohibited punctuation in fiction the editors blog. Interestingly, the dispute was resolved through the use of semicolons and cash. Use a colon to introduce an item or list, if the list comes after a complete sentence or independent clause. Videos on usage jane straus the blue book of grammar. From grammar and spelling to style and tone, grammarly helps you eliminate errors and find the perfect words to express yourself. A dash also introduces extra material, but, well, a dash is quite a dramatic punctuation mark. Its organized in chapters of related usage problems and the rules for the most frequent cases. A colon tells the reader that what follows is closely related to the preceding clause.
Semicolons punctuation rules the blue book of grammar. Grammar girls quick and dirty tips to clean up your writing. For the most current guidelines, see the publication manual of the american psychological association 7th ed. Looking for information about the correct way to use the colon. Find out how to use a semicolon properly and improve your punctuation, grammar, and writing skills. A colon is used to express time, separating the hour and minutes. Semicolons and colons quiz 1 the blue book of grammar. In british english, we do not normally use a capital letter after a colon. How should the punctuation work for and, therefore. Colon versus semicolon colons and semicolons have different functions. Use a colon rather than a comma to follow the salutation in a business letter, even when addressing someone by his or her first name. In a title or heading, a colon is often used to introduce a subdivision of a subject.
The most frequent use of a colon is at the end of a sentence to introduce lists, tabulations, texts, etc. Apr 17, 2017 similarly, mignon fogarty from grammar girl recommends substituting the word namely for the colon to check that your usage is correct. This only works if the second sentence states a logical consequence of whatever is. A colon is redundant to a verb and should never follow one. She is an inductee in the podcasting hall of fame, and the show is a fivetime winner of best education podcast in the podcast awards. Jul 08, 2008 written with the wit, warmth, and accessibility that the podcasts are known for, grammar girl s quick and dirty tips for better writing covers the grammar rules and wordchoice guidelines that can confound even the best writers. In british english, it is unusual for a capital letter to follow a colon. To the delight of word nerds everywhere, grammar girl s quick and dirty tips for better writing came out yesterday.
That is, i talk about how to use colons, but ive never spent much time. With the trademark wit, warmth, and approachability that the podcasts are known for, grammar girl s quick and dirty tips for better writing covers the grammar rules and word choice guidelines that can confound even the best writers. While a semicolon normally joins two independent clauses to signal a close connection between them, a colon does the job of directing you to the information following it. The words after a colon define or clarify what came before the colon. There are five key rules for colon usage that should always be followed. Also, learn the rules for spacing and capitalization after a colon. Colons, question marks, quotation marks, parentheses, apostrophes. In this example, the introductory words are such as, precluding the need for a colon. Apr 24, 2009 a colon informs readers that something more is coming along. Whether youre creating perfect professional documents, spectacular school papers, or effective personal letters, youll find this handbook indispensable.
When matter ending with a colon is quoted, the colon is dropped. Grammar girl breaks down when and how to use colons, including when formatting lists. Grammar girl, is determined to wipe out bad punctuationbut shes also determined to make the process as painless as possible. The only grammar book youll ever need is the ideal resource for everyone who wants to produce writing that is clear, concise, and grammatically excellent. Using commas, semicolons, and colons within sentences two weeks ago we revisited the case of the lawsuit brought by a group of maine dairy truck drivers that centered on the proper use of commas.
My 2007 associated press stylebook says, the most common use of a colon is at the end of a sentence to introduce lists, tabulations, texts, etc. Follow our five rules of colon usage and youll be a master in no time. Mignon fogarty is the founder of quick and dirty tips and the author of seven books on language, including the new york times bestseller grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing. Its often useful to use a colon instead of a semicolon between two sentences when the second sentence explains or. For a double colon, the meaning has included the use of ellipsis, as spanning over omitted text. This article explains the eight uses of the colon in written english and provides. The colon performs eight basic functions in written english. Thats because the colon signals that what comes next is directly related to the previous sentence. A number of other punctuation marks are used less frequently, but still play important roles in english writing.
Jan 11, 2012 i was speaking with a friend about punctuationwhat odd topics writers and editors end up discussingand the use of semicolons in fiction came up while a legitimate punctuation mark, the semicolon has been shunned for use in fiction, especially for dialogue. Erika suffern is the head of book publications at the mla. The colon has more effect than the comma, less power to separate than the semicolon, and more formality than the dash. Mignon fogarty is the founder of quick and dirty tips and the author of seven books on language, including the new. Often, its almost a definition of what came before. According to some of the grammar experts and experienced book authors, the colon is the mark of expectation or addition. Phrases, clauses, and sentences prepositional phrases.
Learn when to use a colon english grammar revolution. Mignon fogarty, author of grammar girl s quick and dirty tips for better writing invaluable reference work for professional proofreaders, editors, and writers because it is the only book that presents chicago, ap, apa, and mla conventions side by side. Do not, however, use a colon when the listed items are incorporated into the flow of the sentence. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Jan 01, 2008 if youre an expert english grammarian, mignon fogartys grammar girl s quick and dirty tips for better writing isnt for you. Its because the colon signals that what comes next is directly related to the previous sentence. Grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing by. Originally, typewriters had monospaced fonts skinny letters and fat letters took up the same amount of space. Putting spaces before and after an em dash is a matter of preference. The three types of rock are igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.
The space needed after these punctuation marks is proportioned automatically. Learn when to use colons, when to use semicolons, when to use commas, and how the three are. Colons have a host of uses, but they mostly have in common that the colon acts to connect what precedes it with what follows. Semicolons with conjunctive adverbs and transitional phrases. To be successful in sales, one should a dress appropriately, b ask customers about their needs, and c follow. For each of the following, choose the sentence with the correct punctuation. Grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing by mignon. A colon is also used between hours and minutes, titles and subtitles of books, city and publisher in bibliographies, in biblical citations between chapter and verse, and for salutations in business letters and other formal letter writing. The colon has primarily three grammatical uses and several nongrammatical uses.
A colon introduces an element or series of elements that illustrates or amplifies the information that preceded the colon. This book is fully updated to reflect the latest rules in grammar. The two hobbies before the colon are defined after the colon as cooking and bothering aardvark. The quiz and worksheet also examine your ability to use colons in specific scenarios. The employee has two objections to the practice of early retirement. The chicago guide to grammar, usage, and punctuation. Grammar and punctuation the blue book of grammar and. Think of the two dots of a colon as if they were stretched out to form an equal sign, so that you get cases like this. They often times show cause and effect, sequences, comparison, and contrast. Use a colon before a series or list only if the words that introduce the list make up a.
Using semicolons semicolons are used for making lists clearer and for controlling the flow of text from one sentence to the next. In grammar girl s quick and dirty tips to clean up your writing, mignon fogarty, the woman behind the popular grammar girl podcast, tackles some of the most common mistakes people make while communicating. Grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing. Using semicolons in lists semicolons can be used in lists to outrank any commas which appear in list items. Like commas, semicolons indicate an audible pauseslightly longer than a commas, but short of a periods full stop. Capitalize the first word after a colon only if it is a proper noun or the start of a complete sentence. Your blue book is clear, concise, and comprehensive. A clear, concise and easy to understand guide to english grammar, punctuation, and usage, this book includes simple explanations of grammar, punctuation and usage.