Semicolons
1. A semicolon can only join sentences. It cannot be used in place of a comma.
2. When a semicolon joins sentences, it conveys the suggestion that they have something to do with each other, like a progression in thought, in space, or in time, or perhaps as a group of concepts. It is therefore incorrect to link sentences with a semicolon when those sentences have nothing to do with each other, as the meaning intended by the author is not what is conveyed to the reader.
Colons
1. A colon joins two clauses. One of these clauses must be independent and contain the main verb phrase of the sentence to make the sentence complete.
2. A colon may only be used to indicate expansion of a concept or an idea. The clause before the colon is the concept; the clause after the colon is an expansion of the concept.
Correct Examples
1. I wonder what my mother is doing; she hasn't said a word to me in fifteen minutes.
2. The boat was well-loved: my father spent insane amounts of money keeping it in good shape.
3. To my right the curtains were red; to my left, they were blue.
4. The tube stop was horrible: graffiti covered the walls, half of the lights were flickering, and it stank of urine.
No comments:
Post a Comment