Improving Punctuation Semi colons & Colons

Learning Intention I will be able to use a colon (:) and semi-colon (;) correctly in my writing.

What is a semi colon? A semi-colon is a small piece of punctuation which looks like this-

Why is it used?  Join sentences which are close in thoughts.  Lions are vicious predators; they often hunt zebras.  Used to separate complicated lists  It was easy to tell each athlete’s sport: the runners were gangly and thin; the weightlifters stocky and large; the gymnasts small and lithe.

Joining sentences which are close in thoughts. I wish we had started earlier. We have missed the train. Summer was awful this year. The sun was hardly to be seen. Elephants live in hot countries. They cool off by bathing. Technology at DCHS is brilliant. The computers are top quality.

Used to separate complicated lists. He bought lots at the shops: blue, sticky, strong paper, large, brown eggs, pink, fluffy candyfloss. DCHS is great for many things. This includes the quality of the teaching. Also, the excellent buildings and the wonderful students and the fantastic cafeteria.

Your turn… Write three sentences which contain a semi-colon to separate ideas close in thought. Write three sentences which contain complicated lists.

What is a colon? A colon is a piece of punctuation which looks like this-

Why do we use colons?  Introduce a quotation or a list.  It is really important to revise the following: equations, graphs, fractions and decimals.  To add an explanation of what has come before.  The garden was infested with ants: big, black and red ones.

Introduce a quotation or a list. There are many ways to make money such as sell your kidney, rob a bank, win the lottery, invent something amazing. In Act 5 Romeo states “I love you, Juliet” Pollution now affects every aspect of our lives such as food, water, air even our moments of quiet.

To add an explanation of what has come before. Football, cricket and tennis. These are my favourite sports. I’m always late for school. Getting up on time is really difficult for me. It was now well into rush hour. Traffic gushed by or fretted at red lights. There’s only one word to describe that. Fabulous.

Your turn… Write three sentences which use a colon to introduce a quotation or a list. Write three sentences which use a colon to add an explanation of what came before.