The English Department’s
Quick Guide to Using Semicolons
and Colons

Semicolons

A semicolon announces a pause in the thought of a sentence. Its pause is less strong than period and stronger than a comma.

You can use this pause in two ways.

Use a semicolon between two independent clauses not joined by a coordinating conjunction.

Note: The coordinating conjunctions are and, but, for, nor, or, so, yet.

The clauses should contain two thoughts that you want closely connected, so that a period seems too much of a separation.

• He loved biology; he hated math.
• Gus loves going to the mountains; his wife prefers the sea.
• The rich are not better than the rest of us; they merely have more money.

• On our vacation we went to London, England; Paris, France; and Venice, Italy.
• Among the guests were Sam, the electrician; Bill, the doctor; Anne, the professor; and Fred, the jockey.
• Sharon’s brothers were born on April 14, 1963; July 2, 1967; and December 23, 1969.

Do not use a semicolon to punctuate to independent clauses connected by a coordinating conjunction. That’s a comma’s job.

• Wrong: I like coffee; but I hate tea.
• Right: I like coffee, but I hate tea.
• Wrong: We’re going to go out to dinner; and then we’ll see a movie.
• Right: We’re going to go out to dinner, and then we’ll see a movie.

Do not use a semicolon to connect clauses and phrases. That’s also a comma’s job.

• Wrong: Jim has read many books; for example Treasure Island and Great Expectations.
• Right: Jim has read many books, such as Treasure Island and Great Expectations.
• Wrong: Julie also invited Mrs. Sterner; her second-grade teacher.
• Right: Julie also invited Mrs. Sterner, her second-grade teacher.

Do not use a semicolon to connect a main clause and a subordinate clause. That’s yet another job for--guess what--a comma.

• Wrong: My car is getting old; although I hope to be able to drive it for one more year.
• Right: My car is getting old, although I hope to be able to drive it for one more year.
• Wrong: If Sheryl gets that job; she will have to move to Ohio.
• Right: If Sheryl gets that job, she will have to move to Ohio.

Colons

Colons are easy. They are used to introduce and emphasize what follows. A colon comes at the end of an independent clause. (That means a colon must follow a clause containing a subject and a predicate.) Here’s a list showing when you should use a colon:

Use a colon to introduce an explanation.

• That night, Tammy saw something she would have sworn did not exist: a UFO hovering over the cornfield.
• The hungry child could think about only one thing: food.
• At last, Ashley could afford her dream vacation: a trip to London.

• I’m taking four classes this semester: English, Chemistry, Algebra, and History.
• Tamsen’s Christmas list fell into four main categories: clothes, CDs, videos, and books.
• Sheila has visited five countries: Canada, Mexico, England, France, and Germany.
• Here’s what you should pack for the sleepover: a sleeping bag, a change of clothes, and your toothbrush.

• Deborah Tannen makes this observation: "Conversation is a ritual."
• Harry said it more than once: "I shall make it big in Hollywood."

• If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times: no!
• Joan’s teenage daughter has only one real interest: MTV.
• After his fifth disastrous blind date, Rodney made a vow: never again.

• School gets out at 2:15.
• Joe knew he had to hurry to make the 7:34 train.

Do not use a colon between a verb or a preposition and its object.

• Wrong: For her birthday, Katie received: a bicycle, a new video game, and some clothes.
• Right: For her birthday, Katie received a bicycle, a new video game, and some clothes.
• Also right: Here’s what Katie received for her birthday: a bicycle, a new video game, and some clothes.

• Wrong: She went to: the store, the dry cleaner, and the gas station.
• Right: She went to the store, the dry cleaner, and the gas station.
• Also right: She went to several places: the store, the dry cleaner, and the gas station.

Do not use a colon after such as.

• Wrong: P.J. has had many jobs, such as: cashier, waiter, cook, sales clerk.
• Right: P.J. has had many jobs, such as cashier, waiter, cook, sales clerk.
• Also right: Just look at all the jobs P.J. has had: cashier, waiter, cook, sales clerk.

Correct use of colons and semicolons gives you more control over emphasis in your writing. Using semicolons, you show a tighter connection between two thoughts than a period allows. Using colons, you show a greater degree of emphasis on what follows the colon. Try using both of these marks of punctuation in your writing, but be careful not to overuse either one.