COLON and SEMI-COLON
Colons are used to separate a sentence from a list of items, between two sentences when the second one explains the first, and to introduce a long direct quote.
Use a colon in a list, a summary, a long quotation.
- In two words: I'm tired
- The shopping list included: apples, beans, potatoes and beer.
Use a colon in a list, a summary, a long quotation.
- In two words: I'm tired
- The shopping list included: apples, beans, potatoes and beer.
Semicolons are used to take the place of a conjunction and are placed before introductory words like “therefore” or “however.” They are also used to separate a list of things if there are commas within each unit.
Semicolons can also be used to break up a very long list.
- The shopping list included apples; beans; bananas; potatoes; crisps; carrots;
tomatoes; cucumber; mint sauce and beer.
Semicolons can also be used to break up a very long list.
- The shopping list included apples; beans; bananas; potatoes; crisps; carrots;
tomatoes; cucumber; mint sauce and beer.
