Colons
I need to buy three items a gallon of milk, a loaf of bread, and a dozen eggs.
I need to buy three items: a gallon of milk, a loaf of bread, and a dozen eggs.
The alarm clock never went off I missed the bus to school.
The alarm clock never went off; I missed the bus to school.
I finished the laundry this morning now I need to start on the dishes.
I finished the laundry this morning; now I need to start on the dishes.
He realized his mistake he had forgotten to save the document before closing the program.
He realized his mistake: he had forgotten to save the document before closing the program.
We can leave for the concert now however, we'll need to hurry to find a good parking spot.
We can leave for the concert now; however, we'll need to hurry to find a good parking spot.
The forecast predicted rain for the entire weekend therefore, we canceled the hiking trip.
The forecast predicted rain for the entire weekend; therefore, we canceled the hiking trip.
The researcher made a strong claim in the report "We must rethink our approach to renewable energy sources to meet the demands of the next decade."
The researcher made a strong claim in the report: "We must rethink our approach to renewable energy sources to meet the demands of the next decade."
The team has members from Paris, France Berlin, Germany and Rome, Italy.
*TWO semicolons
The team has members from Paris, France; Berlin, Germany; and Rome, Italy.
Several cities have adopted sustainable transit options for example, Paris has aggressively expanded its network of bike lanes.
Several cities have adopted sustainable transit options; for example, Paris has aggressively expanded its network of bike lanes.
The most crucial element of a successful negotiation is always this preparation.
The most crucial element of a successful negotiation is always this: preparation.
After working on the puzzle for three days, I finally placed the final piece I felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and relief wash over me.
After working on the puzzle for three days, I finally placed the final piece; I felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and relief wash over me.
The finalists for the award were Sarah Connor, CEO of TechCorp David Kim, founder of Green Energy and Lila Singh, president of Global Health.
*TWO semicolons
The finalists for the award were Sarah Connor, CEO of TechCorp; David Kim, founder of Green Energy; and Lila Singh, president of Global Health.
The Limón technique, developed by Mexican-born dancer and choreographer Jose Limón, is known for its emphasis on breath control and its interplay of weight and ______ dancers may explore, for example, the moment of mid-air suspension at the top of a jump.
A. weightlessness
B. weightlessness which
C. weightlessness,
D. weightlessness;
D
This choice uses a semicolon in a conventional way to join the first main clause ("The Limón…weightlessness") and the second main clause ("dancers…jump").
A. The items a job applicant must provide include a detailed resume, three letters of recommendation, and a completed application form.
B. The items a job applicant must provide include: a detailed resume, three letters of recommendation, and a completed application form.
C. Neither are correct
A. The items a job applicant must provide include a detailed resume, three letters of recommendation, and a completed application form.
"The items a job applicant must provide include" is not a complete sentence
A. The fishing boat left at dawn; the price of crude oil rose sharply last month.
B. The fishing boat left at dawn. The price of crude oil rose sharply last month.
C. Both are correct
D. Neither is correct
B
These two ideas are NOT closely related and should not be combined with a semicolon.
Because the presentation was running long, the manager asked the team to skip the first two slides the audience, eager to ask questions, seemed relieved by the time saver.
Because the presentation was running long, the manager asked the team to skip the first two slides; the audience, eager to ask questions, seemed relieved by the time saver.
By 1774, what had started as a local means of mobilizing support for the Patriot cause had grown into something far more ______ network of such committees that, facilitating communication among the colonies, helped lay the groundwork for the Continental Congress.
A. extensive: a
B. extensive; a
C. extensive, it was a
D. extensive. A
A
In this choice, the colon is correctly used to introduce the following explanation of what the Patriot cause had grown into by 1774.