Semi-colons

If the items in the list are longer than one or

two words separate them with a semi-colon.

The attractions of the park included: a new

roundabout; a short pony ride; a long slide
and an ice-cream stall.
 Semi-colons

•A semicolon is also used to join two independent

clauses when the clauses are connected by a
conjunctive adverb (such as: as a result, for
example, however, therefore, and instead)
•Example:
•"Japan is next on that list; however, the Japanese
have only 50 million computers."
 Semi-colons
•Use a semicolon between groups of words
in a series when one or more of the groups
already contains commas.
•Example:
•"May of our community's residents separate
their garbage into bins for newspapers,
cardboard and junk mail; glass, metal and
plastic and non recyclable trash."
 Semi-colons
Semi-colons can be used to join clauses in a
sentence. Sometimes they take the place of
connectives.
John liked jelly, and Sam just loved ice
cream.
This sentence could be written:
John liked jelly; Sam just loved ice cream.
It was a dark night, and the moon hid behind
a cloud.
It was a dark night; the moon hid behind a
cloud.
 Practice
1. Animation has become very popular however artists
actually began animating cartoons in the early 1900s.

2. The first cartoons were hand drawn frame by frame as a

result each cartoon took a long time to create.

3. The store will be closed on the following days: Thursday,

Dec.24th ; Friday, Dec. 25th; Saturday, Dec. 26th and
Sunday, Dec. 27th

4. The company hired three new employees: Robert , who was

42 years old; Juan, who was 28 years old; and Dana, who
was 24 years old.
 Colons
Colons ( : ) are used:
• Before a list of words, phrases or clauses.
In front of him were the following: mince pies, holly and other
delicious delights.
In this example the items in the list are separated by commas.
Remember:
you do not put a comma before the word and.
Today, he had breakfast: a Greek sandwich with meat and sauté
vegetables.
Common misuses of colons are: separating a verb from its object(s) •
The basic ingredients for a cake are: flour, eggs, sugar and oil.
(Unnecessary)
The basic ingredients for a cake are flour, eggs, sugar and oil. (Better)
 Colons
• Colons are also used in ratio and
between the numbers in time.
• Ex. 1:3
• 10:00 pm
 Colon
•A colon may be used to introduce a
sentence, a question, or a quotation.
•Examples:
•This is why air pollution is bad: We are sacrificing our
health and the health of all other life on the planet.
•Answer this question for me: Why aren't more people
concerned about global warming?
•Stephanie shared this with us: "Iceland is the world's
leader in the use of renewable energy."
 Colon
•Use a colon to emphasize a word or
phrase.
•Example:
•The newest alternative energy is also the most
common element on Earth: hydrogen.
•Here's one thing that can help save energy: a
programmable thermostat.
 Colons
A colon is also used in a glossary between a
word and its definition.

Connective: a word used to join two parts of

a sentence.
Adjective: a word which describes a noun.
 Colon
• Use a colon between the parts of
a number that indicates time.
• Example:
• My thermostat automatically sets
my hear to 60 degrees between
11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.