Semicolons and colons part 9

• What are the purposes of semicolons:

  1. Connects closely related ideas
  2. To create flow in concise messages
  3. To separate lists within lists
  4. For transitional words joining two complete sentences
• Semicolons creating flow in concise messages: Blending two sentences that have the same general topic into one
• Semicolons separating lists within lists: Semicolons separate the major categories in a huge list and commas separate the minor categories
• Semicolons and their relationship with transitional words: Transitional words that are joining two sentences are preceded by a semicolon and followed by a comma
• Colons as a formal introducer: A set up phrase to describe information is ended with a colon. the information follows the colon. A colon is still used even if the set up phrase is implied and not directly stated
• Colons and independent clauses: Colons are used between clauses when the second clause explains the first without a coordinating conjunction or transitional expression linking them
• colons related to time and proportions: Colons are used for time expressed in figures and represents the word "to" for proportion
• colons and business documents:

  1. Colons are used in business letters after the greeting. commas are used in social letters
  2. In business letters, a colon is used with elements displayed on separate lines
• colons and book and article titles: COlons are used in book and article titles when citing references
• Capitalizing after a colon:

  1. Don't capitalize the first word after a colon if the material that follows can't be a sentence
  2. Capitalize the first word if it requires special emphasis or its a formal rule
  3. Capitalize the first word after a colon if what follows the colon is two or more sentences