Semicolons and Colons

​Semicolons create more separation between thoughts than a comma does but less than a period does.

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You can use a semicolon in different ways:

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1) ​To help separate items in a list.

​ John, the baker; Simon, the policeman; and Toby, the architect.

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2) To join two sentences.

​I bought a ton of fruit at the grocery store; apples, grapes, and pears were all on sale.

I love cake; however, I love pizza more.​

​More semicolon examples

​In these sentences, the semicolon is uniting two closely related sentences.​

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Emily loves milk, but she can’t drink it; she’s lactose-intolerant.

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​I don’t buy CDs anymore; I don’t own a CD player, anyway.

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​We created pinch pots using clay; our teacher will fire them in the kiln later.

​​In these sentences, the semicolon is separating items in a complex list.

Sally needed a lot of new clothes for summer: swim trunks, flip-flops, and goggles for the pool; a linen shirt, and a straw hat.

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​At the store, I had a very long list including: eggs, milk, and sugar to bake a cake; a party hat, and some candles to celebrate at the party.

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The colon is used to introduce a list of items.

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Example: The bookstore specializes in three subjects: art, architecture, and graphic design.

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Example: You may be required to bring many items: sleeping bags, pans, and warm clothing.

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The colon is also used to separate two independent clauses when the second explains or illustrates the first.​

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Example: I have very little time to learn the language: my new job starts in five weeks.​

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Colons can also be used ​for emphasis.

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Example: ​After three weeks of deliberation, the jury finally reached a verdict: guilty.

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