1. Colons and Semi-Colons
Springboard – Unit 4

2. When do you use a Colon?
Colons are used to introduce a list and to further explain something.
List Example: Mary's dinner consisted of the following: salad, soup, chicken, and toast.
Further Explanation Example: Mary's dinner reminded her of the back yard: both contained many wonderful colors and smells.

3. When do you use a Colon?
Colons are used in ratios, time, business letters, and titles/subtitles.
Ratio Example: Mary's ratio of carbohydrate intake to protein was 3:1.
Time Example: Mary ate dinner at 9:12.
Letter Example: Dear Editor:
Title Example: Mary enjoys reading the book, Tastebud Heaven: Meals in 10 Minutes.

4. When do you use a Semi-Colon?
Semi-Colons are used between two complete sentences. Keep in mind that a semicolon functions the same way as a period and a capital letter.
Sentence Example: Please open the window; it is hot in here.

5. When do you use a Semi-Colon?
Semi-Colons are used between two complete sentences connected by words like however, therefore, consequently, nevertheless, and then.
Sentence Example: We are creating study guides to help students prepare for the tests; however, students’ scores are not reflecting improvement.

6. When do you use a Semi-Colon?
Semi-Colons are used between items of a series that have internal commas.
Internal Comma Example: We are thinking about moving to Omaha, Nebraska; Gainesville, Florida; or Memphis, Tennessee.

7. Hyphens and Ellipses
Springboard - Unit 4

8. When do you use a Hyphen?
Hyphens are used to join words together that form a compound adjective placed before a noun and to show a word break at the end of a sentence.
Compound Adjective Example: She has one sixteen-year-old son.
Word Break Example: The honor stu-dent participated in community service.
(Only break between syllables.)

9. When do you use a Hyphen?
Hyphens are used to write out numbers and fractions.
Number Example: Only seventy-five students turned in an essay.
Fraction Example: Two-thirds of the class turned in the essay.

10. When do you use an Ellipse?
Ellipses are used to indicate that info has been left out in a quotation.
Original Passage: “I knew that the places I wanted to go on vacation, such as Hawaii or Jamaica were going to be expensive,” said Ms. Pickett.
Ellipse Passage: “I knew that the places I wanted to go on vacation were going to be expensive.”