Semicolons, colons, dashes: Each has a specific use

By Dick Thien
Chips Quinn Writing Coach

Semicolons

In most cases, the semicolon's function is the same as that of a period, except that the "stop" signal is not as strong. When you have two main clauses that are closely related in thought -- particularly if the two clauses contain contrasting ideas -- you might separate them with a semicolon rather than a period.
EXAMPLE: The semicolon is a weak period; the colon draws attention to what is to follow.

The semicolon also is used between equal elements that contain commas.
EXAMPLE: The following were elected: Betty Smith, president; John Jones, vice president; Phil Jackson, secretary; and Emily Brown, treasurer.

Colons

Whereas the semicolon links contrasting ideas, the colon is like a green light, inviting the reader to continue from an initial idea to its further development.
EXAMPLE: The city council Monday night moved one step closer to instituting a downtown beautification program: It approved spending $40,000 for a study by the architectural firm of Smith & Johnson.

The colon also helps emphasize a point.
EXAMPLE: He had but one thing in mind: food.

Do not capitalize the first word following a colon, unless the word is a proper noun or the passage to follow is a full sentence. Note the two previous examples. In No. 3, the word "it" is capitalized because what follows is a complete sentence. But in No. 4, the word food is not capitalized.

Because news columns are so narrow, editors actively seek to create small paragraphs to break up the blocks of gray. In doing so, many use a device that is grammatically tainted: They use a colon after a linking verb (like "was") and follow it with what normally would be part of the original sentence. Though such usage is common, avoid it.

EXAMPLE: Elected as officers were:
Betty Smith, president; John Jones, vice president; Phil Jackson, secretary; and Emily Brown, treasurer.

Dashes

The dash is used to signal an abrupt change in thought.

EXAMPLE: He goes around town telling people that he intends - he doesn't say hopes - to be mayor for three terms.

The dash also is used to set off a parenthetical element that has commas in it.

EXAMPLE: The tools - a hammer, saw and drill - are all here.

Leave a space on each side of the dash.

A common organizational device for multi-faceted stories requires both the dash and the colon.

EXAMPLE: In other action, the city council:
- Approved a . . . .
- Voted to . . . .
- Debated a . . . .

Note that in such construction, a space occurs between the dash and the word that follows. Note also that the first word after the dash is capitalized. Each line is ended with a period, not a semi-colon.

TRICKY PAIRS

Your and You're
As with so many other pairs, you have to create a mental red flag that goes up whenever you type either of these words. Your is a possessive pronoun, as in write your story. The contraction you're stands for you are, as in you're right.

Capital and Capitol
Capitol is a building housing a state legislative body or the U.S. Congress (capitalize the latter). All other meanings - including that of a city where the capital is - take an "al" spelling.
EXAMPLE: The capitol building is in the capital city.

SPELLING WORDS
gauge
nickel
lightning
adviser

(Note on "adviser": While advisor, with an o, seems to be gaining supporters, The Associated Press still opts for the e ending.)

About the column

Write It Right is updated regularly. Have a suggestion for a future column, contact Dick Thien.

Read Dick Thien's biography.

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