Semicolons, Colons and Hyphens

Andrew Rohm, John Hagee

Bad grammar and poor punctuation is not a laughing matter.

SemicolonsSemicolonsA semicolon is used to separate complete ideas that could stand

alone as sentences; however, the ideas are related, so the author wants to put them together.

My grandmother seldom goes to bed this early; she's afraid she'll miss out on something.

• Independent Clauses• A semicolon is used to separate complete ideas

that could stand alone as sentences; however, the ideas are related, so the author wants to put them together.

• Many times these independent clauses have joining words between them:• Also, finally, instead, besides, for

example, on the contrary, consequently, however, still, even so, in addition, therefore.

I made it through my exam; finally, my class is over.

Examples:

• When a list contains commas to separate items, the parts of the sentence should be separated by semicolons.

To help sort out a monster list:

Examples:There were citizens from Bangor, Maine; Hartford, Connecticut; Boston, Massachusetts; and Newport, Rhode Island.

Last night, Leno’s guests included Mel Gibson, star of stage, screen and squad car; Bertrand Russell, renown as the world champion of Philosophers; and William Shakespeare, sometimes called the “Bard of Avon” or simply “Bard.”

The HYPHENThe HYPHEN

HYPHENHYPHENSS

Use a hyphen to form compound modifiers.

COMPOUND MODIFIER:

The Definition: Two or more words are acting as a single modifier for a noun.

The Clue: They belong together. They are not part of a series that can separately describe the noun.

I think Steve is a well-intentioned volunteer.

Steve is a helpful, supportive volunteer.

The 20-year-old man was too young to buy alcohol.

NOTE: If you can remove one of the descriptors from the string, it is not a compound modifier and so does not need hyphens

COLONSCOLONSColons are used to introduce whatever follows them in a sentence.

USE IN THE FOLLOWING SITUATIONS:After a complete statement in order to introduce one or more directly

related ideas, such as a series of directions, a list, or a quotation or other comment illustrating or explaining the statement.

• The daily newspaper contains four sections: news, sports, entertainment, and classified ads.

• The strategies of corporatist industrial unionism have proven ineffective: compromises and concessions have left labor in a weakened position in the new "flexible" economy.

In a business letter greeting.• Dear Ms. Winstead:Between the hour and minutes in time notation.• 5:30 p.m.Between chapter and verse in biblical references.• Genesis 1:18

Works Cited

• “The Tongue Untied, A Guide to Grammar, Punctuation and Style.” University of Oregon . 3 July 2008

<http://grammar.uoregon.edu/punctuation/hyphen.html>

• “Brief Overview of Punctuation: Semicolon, Colon, Parenthesis, Dash, Quotation Marks, and Italics.” Purdue University Online Writing Lab. 3 July 2008

<http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_overvw.html>

• “The Semicolon.” Guide to Grammar and Writing. 6 July 2008<http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/

semicolon.htm