By Ralea M. Haun

What is a colon? What is a semicolon? What is a hyphen? What is a dash?

A colon is used to mark a major division in a sentence, to indicate that what follows is an elaboration, summation, implication; or to separate groups of numbers referring to different things A semicolon is used to indicate a major division in a sentence where a more distinct separation is felt between clauses. A hyphen is a short, single-character line which connects word parts. A dash is a longer line—double the length of a hyphen—which indicates a break or interruption in the thought

A semicolon is the punctuation mark (;) used to indicate a major division in a sentence where a more distinct separation is felt between clauses. A semicolon is more than a comma, but less than a period, so it combines the two into a single punctuation mark.

There are two uses for a semicolon #1 Use a semicolon in place of a comma plus conjunction when combining clauses in a sentence Ex: Many Americans love baseball; in fact, it’s sometimes called the Great American Pastime. Sometimes, a writer might use a conjunctive adverb to explain the relationship between two independent clauses Ex: Coach wants to make sure we win the championship next week; therefore, we have extra practices this week.

#2 Use a semicolon to separate items in a series if one or more of the series items already contains a comma Ex: At the pet store last night, I bought an aquarium, a filter, and three fish. In the sentence above, each series item is easily identified. However, if one or more items in the series contains a comma already, use a semicolon to separate the series items. I also looked at a beagle; a golden retriever; and a Australian cattle dog and Siberian husky mix. Without the semicolons in the sentence above, readers might have trouble figuring out how many dogs he actually saw.

1. Make sure you do not use both a semicolon and a conjunction in the same sentence. 2. Avoid overusing semicolons

A colon is used to mark a major division in a sentence, to indicate that what follows is an elaboration, summation, implication; or to separate groups of numbers referring to different things A colon says that you have introduced what will follow. Think of is as a pair of eyes pointing to what is coming next.

The main use: Use a colon to follow an introduction. Sometimes you might want to introduce something before you give the details. A colon separates the introduction from what is being introduced. Ex: Football requires players to develop multiple skills: running, passing, tackling, and blocking. So far, colons seem easy. Colons are misused a lot because they have to follow a few rules.

A colon may be placed only after a complete independent clause. Incorrect: Meanwhile: we wasted two hours wandering around the airport. The introductory word “Meanwhile” should be followed by a comma rather than a colon Correct: Meanwhile, we wasted two hours wandering around the airport. Don’t use a colon with an introductory phrase. Using introductory phrases accomplishes the same thing as a colon. Incorrect: By the age of twelve, most people catch the “childhood diseases,” for example: measles, mumps and the chicken pox. The phrase “for example” and the colon mean the same thing. Use one or the other not both. Correct: By the age of twelve, most people catch the “childhood diseases”: measles, mumps, and the chicken pox.

Don’t use a colon between a preposition and its object. Incorrect: The mall includes: Forever 21, Dillards, and Belk. Correct: The mall includes Forever 21, Dillards, and Belk. Never use more than one colon in a sentence! Incorrect: The President’s new policy on stem cell research is controversial: it has been praised and criticized by members of both parties: Republican and Democrat. Correct: The President’s new policy on stem cell research is controversial: it has been praised and criticized by both Republicans and Democrats.

Use a colon to separate the chapter and the verse in biblical references Use a colon to separate the hour and minutes in a time reference Use a colon to separate a title and a subtitle

What does a Hyphen do? Hyphens function to avoid confusion and misreading by joining compound words including nouns and other modifiers. How many uses of a hyphen are there? There are seven

1. Use hyphens with compound numbers between twenty-one and ninety-nine Also use hyphens to separate numerators and denominators in fractions 2. Use hyphens with some compound nouns Ex: Mother-in-law Do not use hyphens with other compound nouns Ex: toothpaste 3.Use hyphens to join coequal nouns Ex: writer-illustrator Do not use hyphens between nouns in which the first noun modifies or describes the second Ex: football player

4. Use hyphens to join compound modifiers that precede nouns Ex: middle-class family 5. Use hyphens to separate words in phrases functioning as modifiers that precede nouns Ex: all-you-can-eat buffet 6. Use hyphens with certain prefixes and suffixes all-, anti-, -elect, ex-, mid-, neo-, post-, and self- Ex: all-purpose Do not use hyphens with most other prefixes Ex: unhappy 7.Use hyphens to avoid confusion and misreading Ex: re-sign (as in to sign again, not to resign or quit)

A dash is used to emphasize what follows Use dashes sparingly: not more than a pair per sentence in informal writing and (if possible) not more than per paragraph in formal writing Use a dash for a change of topic within a sentence Ex: This very important—are you listening to me? Use a dash if the information that follows is surprising Ex: We went shopping in London—and saw Big Ben Use a dash to show hesitation Ex: I want to go get something to eat—Chinese?

Use a dash to indicate a summarizing clause Ex: Jane, Jim, and Susan-they all were taken back. Use a dash to indicate an emphasized addition Use a dash to enclose emphasized additional information which interrupts the normal progression of the sentence Ex: He wanted us-Caron, Susan, and I-to meet his family.

A hyphen is a short, single-character line which connects word parts. A dash is a longer line—double the length of a hyphen—which indicates a break or interruption in the thought