Punctuation Department · Today with The Mayor

Semicolon & Colon

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Semicolon & Colon

Tap an officer to meet them, then work through each one.

Join two complete thoughts with a semicolon

A semicolon joins two independent clauses (complete thoughts) that are closely related, with no coordinating conjunction between them. Joining two independent clauses with only a comma is a comma splice; the semicolon is the stronger fix (Chief Comma flags the splice; the semicolon repairs it).

In a sentence

The sun set ; the sky turned orange.

I was tired ; I kept reading.

Now you try

Each side must stand on its own. Like: I was tired; I kept reading.

Introduce what follows with a colon

A colon introduces a list or an explanation, and the words before the colon must form a complete statement (an independent clause).

In a sentence

I packed three things : a map, a snack, and a hat.

She had one goal : to win the race.

Now you try

The part before the colon must be a complete statement. Like: I packed three things: a map, a snack, and a hat.

One joins, one introduces

A semicolon balances two complete thoughts that are closely related; a colon introduces a list or an explanation after a complete statement. Both need a complete clause before them.

In a sentence

The bell rang ; the students went home.

I brought one thing : my lunch.

Now you try

A semicolon balances two complete thoughts; a colon introduces what comes next.