Home
>
Semicolons vs. Colons vs. Dashes

Pricing

Starter
Rs.2999
25 to 30 Sessions, Validity - 30 days
Buy Now
  • Basics of spoken English
  • 1:1 practice sessions for fluency
  • App (unlimited offline practice)
  • Extempore
  • Group Discussion
    Mock Interviews (on demand & chargeable)

Super Value

Unlimited
Rs.4999
75 to 90 Sessions, Validity - 90 days
Buy now
  • Basics of spoken English
  • 1:1 practice sessions for fluency
  • App (unlimited offline practice)
  • Extempore
  • Group Discussion
    Mock Interviews (on demand & chargeable)
first step is to find out all the problems in your communication skills
Book your test for Rs. 99/- only

Semicolons vs. Colons vs. Dashes

Colons, semicolons, and dashes are perhaps the three most misunderstood punctuation marks in the English language. Each of these is used to indicate a pause or break in a sentence.
Introduction

An element or group of items that highlights or emphasises the information that came before the colon are introduced after a colon. A colon serves the purpose of pointing you toward the material after it, but a semicolon often links two distinct sentences to indicate a tight connection between them.

Many people are confused about using colons, but their function is actually quite straightforward. Think of it as a flashing arrow that points to the information following it. When a colon appears in a sentence, it usually gives the silent impression of “as follows,” “which is/are,” or “thus.”

When do I use it?

When do I use a colon?

There are a few different situations where you might use a colon:

1. To introduce a list

For example, you might say: "I need to buy: milk, bread, and eggs."

2. To introduce a quotation

For example, you might say: "John F. Kennedy once said: 'Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.'"

3. To separate two independent clauses

An independent clause is a group of words that can stand on its own as a sentence. For example, "I am writing a blog about colons" is an independent clause. "I am writing a blog about colons: I think they're underused in writing" is two independent clauses joined by a colon.

4. To emphasize something

For example, you might say: "I am writing this blog for one reason: to help people learn about colons!"

So, there are a few different situations where you might use a colon. Just remember that a colon can be a powerful tool for emphasis, so use it sparingly.

Conclusion

When the second sentence is closely connected to the first clause—and not simply tangentially—and when the focus is on the second clause, two independent clauses can be separated by a colon. The colon is a bit softer than the period but a little harsher than the semicolon, however you may also use a semicolon or a period between two separate yet linked clauses. You can also download our app from the playstore or visit our website.

Be a Fluent English Speaker

for your office meetings, presentations, job interviews or IELTS

Live 1:1 practice, GD, Extempore & Mock Interviews under expert guidance, trusted by over 100,000+ users worldwide, loved by IIT & IAM alumni

first step is to find out all the problems in your communication skills
Book your test for Rs. 29/- only