Using the colon and the semicolon Beautify you’re writing; use different types of punctuation.

Three main uses for the colon To introduce a list To introduce an explanation To define something

To introduce a list Examples There are three things I need from the store: bread, milk and cookies. There are many sports I like to play: baseball, football, basketball and golf.

To introduce an explanation Examples I’ll tell you what’s going to happen: I’m going to be famous. I know what you want me to do: You want me to clean my room.

To define something Examples School: a place where people go to learn Car: a motorized vehicle people use to get from place to place

Two main uses for the semicolon To join two independent clauses that relate to each other As a super comma

To join two independent clauses that relate to each other Examples: I can’t wait to meet Albert Pujols; he is my favorite baseball player. I hate getting out of bed at 5 a.m.; I’m not a morning person. Use a comma, not a semicolon, when there is a conjunction present Albert Pujols is my favorite baseball player, but he is not my favorite athlete.

As a super comma Examples We went to Rome, Italy; Paris, France; and London, England. I got my picture taken with Logan Thomas, the quarterback; Frank Beamer, the head coach; and Bud Foster, the defensive coordinator.