Colons and Semicolons

To introduce a list

Our softball team will play the following rivals: Mabank, Malakoff, and Kemp.

Before an explanation

There was only one priority left for me to see to: finishing my homework.

I love going to the movies: action movies are usually my preference.

To separate an independent clause from a quotation

My baseball coach loves to use the same phrase before every practice and game:
“Shut up and play baseball.”

Between a title and subtitle

The textbook for our class is called Ideas Across Time: Classic and Contemporary
Readings for Composition.

Place semicolons between items in lists if some items in the list include commas.

My classmates are from Milwaukee, Wisconsin; St. Paul, Minnesota; Des Moines, Iowa; and Detroit, Michigan.

Place a semicolon between two independent clauses to link them in the same sentence.

I don’t have time to practice fiddling; my schoolwork is too demanding.

Linking complete clauses with a conjunctive adverb: Place a

semicolon between independent clauses linked with a conjunctive

adverb.

It might rain; however, the weather report suggests sunshine

all day.