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No, they are different punctuation marks and they have different uses.
A colon ( : ) should always be preceded by a complete sentence, and it is sometimes used instead of a period. There are two ways to use a colon:
1. To set off an illustration of a point. For example:
The girl was tired of the game: she'd been playing it all day.
You could use a period here, but a colon helps link the two thoughts. The second short sentence is directly illustrative of why the girl was tired, so it provides further clarification. The colon is stronger than a period when it comes to showing a cause and effect relationship. In the case above, the second portion is a complete thought, but it's dependent on the first sentence for meaning.
2. A colon can set off a list: For example:
My car was packed to the roof with sporting equipment: tennis rackets, soccer balls, Baseball bats, and a surfboard.
Here, the portion after the colon is not a complete sentence: it is dependent on the first half of the sentence (note how in this very sentence I've used a colon to set off further description of why it is not a complete sentence!). However, the first portion IS a complete sentence. Thus, you could not write it like this:
My car was packed to the roof with sporting equipment including: a tennis racket, ....
In that case, the first portion is not a complete sentence.
3. In academic writing a colon is used before an indented quotation. For example: As Weinstein (1999, p. 140) notes, this view presents problems:
[Indented quotation]
A semi-colon ( ; ) is used to link two complete sentences. Note that. They must both be complete thoughts. Anywhere you use a semi colon, you should be able to use a period as well.
You typically use a semi colon to link two thoughts without using a conjunction. For example:
I have to get gas in my car; I'm going to Banff this weekend and it's a long trip.
There is a second use of a semi colon, and that is to set off items in a list where there are already commas present. Let me demonstrate:
This list is easy to figure out: I want peas, carrots, and corn with my dinner.
But this one gets confusing: My sister sent me postcards from Calgary, Alberta, Toronto, Ontario, and Montreal, Quebec.
In this example, if you didn't know that the list is grouping cities and provinces together, you might think Calgary, Alberta, Toronto, and Ontario are all different cities, and you'd be confused when you got to the comma separated item after the word AND. A semi colon can clear this up, like so:
My sister sent me postcards from Calgary, Alberta; Toronto, Ontario; and Montreal, Quebec.
Just make sure that when you do use a semi colon in this way, you use it for the whole list, not just items that have commas in them.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
No, colons and semi-colons are not used interchangeably. Colons are used to introduce a list, an explanation, or to separate independent clauses when the second explains or illustrates the first. Semi-colons are used to connect two independent clauses that are closely related and to separate items in a list if the items contain commas.
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Where do semmie colons go?
Semicolons are used to separate closely related independent clauses in a sentence or to separate items in a complex list when commas are already being used within those items. They go between the clauses or items that you want to connect.
What are the example of funtuation marks in English language?
Examples of punctuation marks in English include periods (.), commas (,), question marks (?), exclamation points (!), colons (:), semicolons (;), apostrophes ('), quotation marks (" "), and parentheses (()).
Standard marks used in writing to separate the sentences or to make a sentence more clearer?
Punctuation marks are used in writing to separate sentences and make them clearer. Common punctuation marks for this purpose include periods, question marks, exclamation points, commas, and semicolons. These marks help readers understand the structure and meaning of written text.
Which punctuation mark is always placed outside the final quotation mark?
In American English, periods and commas are typically placed inside final quotation marks, while colons and semicolons are placed outside.
What are the terminal and internal punctuation mark?
Terminal punctuation marks are used at the end of a sentence, such as periods, question marks, and exclamation points. Internal punctuation marks are used within a sentence, such as commas, semicolons, and colons.
Can Colons be used when listing items in a series?
Yes, colons can be used to introduce a list of items in a series. For example: "I need three things from the store: milk, bread, and eggs."
Does a semicolon go inside or outside of quotation marks?
In American English, a semicolon typically goes outside of quotation marks; whereas in British English, it goes inside. For consistency, it's best to check a specific style guide or follow the conventions of the English variant you are using.
When to use a semi colons in a story?
Semi-colons can be used in a story to separate two related independent clauses without using a conjunction. They can also be used to separate items in a list if the items contain commas. Additionally, semi-colons can be used to connect closely related sentences or ideas in a way that enhances the flow of the narrative.
Which punctuation marks always comes in a pair?
Quotation marks and parentheses always come in a pair. Another answer: Colons and semicolons also come in a pair.
What character is a non-alphanumeric on the keyboard?
Non-alphanumeric characters on the keyboard are those that are neither alphabetic nor numeric. Examples are commas, underscores, colons and semicolons.
Can there be a comma in a song?
yes, there can be a comma,colons and semicolons in a song....the work of these things are to take a pause and differentiate what actually the singer tries to tell.All these make the song meaningful.
Why you use semicolons?
I use semicolons to separate independent clauses that are closely related in a sentence, instead of using a period. This helps create a smoother connection between the two clauses.
What are colons for?
colons are used in presages but only when your listing the ingredients but it can i also be used to list ingredients or objects.
What are semicolons used in java?
to end a statement
How are colons and semicolons used in computer science?
In Excel, for example, if you write (A3,A8), the computer only takes cells A3 and A8, whereas if you write (A3;A8), it takes every cell between A3 and A8 (A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8).
Can Apostrophes and quotation marks can be used interchangeably?
Apostrophes and quotation marks can be used interchangeably.
What are semi-colons used for in English?
semi colons are used in English often for things such as lists, it is also a way of separating information and telling you that there is some information coming.
