How to use semicolons grammar girl colon vs semicolon. From punctuation to style, grammar girl has you covered in her weekly on demand podcasts. Do you capitalize the word coming after a semicolon in a. It may seem like capitalization after a semicolon is necessary, especially when two clauses are combined. Grammar girl provides short, friendly tips to improve your writing. Use a colon to introduce an item or a series of items. Grammar and style center for writing excellence montclair.
This pretty much echoes the guidance given by sites such as grammar girl, cccf, grammarbook, unc writing center. In this interview, i talk with bourne morris about starting a writing career after. Finally, lets talk about whether you capitalize the first word after a colon or a dash. Also, learn the rules for spacing and capitalization after a colon. Semicolons the blue book of grammar and punctuation. This post is all about colons and semicolons punctuation is the name for the marks we use in writing. You should not capitalize after semicolons since the semicolons are simply separating units in a series that contains commas. Alice remains capitalized, and so does missouri, but north would not. Covering the grammar rules and word choice guidelines that can confound even the best writers, grammar girl makes complex grammar questions simple with memory tricks to help you recall and apply those troublesome grammar rules. Do you capitalize the word after a colon and a semicolon. Oh well, i always capitalize the first letter after a semicolon, by reason that the semicolon has a full stop in its symbol. In british english, the word following a colon is not capitalized unless it is a proper noun or an acronym.
Sanghoon finished typing the report and saved multiple copies of it two hours after his supervisor gave the information to him he types 85 words per minute. After reading the handout, you will be better able to decide when to use these forms of punctuation in your own writing. For many writers, picking your favorite punctuation mark is a bit like picking your favorite child. In the english language, a semicolon can be used between two closely related independent clauses, provided they are not already joined by a coordinating conjunction. It should be lowercase, unless of course the word after the semicolon always needs an initial capital for example, because its a proper name. Grammar girl quick and dirty tips for better writing rru library. Mignon is the author of the new york times bestseller grammar girl s quick and dirty tips for better writing and six other books on writing.
When it comes to colons, grammar girl writes that you should be able to replace a colon with the word namely. When it comes to the question of whether to capitalize the first word after a semicolon or colon, the answer is likely it depends. You never capitalize after semicolons except with proper nouns or words such as i, which are always capitalized. Unless its a proper noun that youd capitalize anyway or part of a title, there is no reason to capitalize after a semicolon or even a colon. Capitalization after colons grammar and punctuation. The famous semicolon advice from vonnegut was taken out of context. The first appropriate use of the semicolon are semicolons required rather than commas in a list after a colon when the list is not bulleted. Semicolons, colons, and parentheses purdue writing lab. Grammar girl is part of the quick and dirty tips podcast network. Another great resource for trying to decipher grammar rules is grammar girl. Semicolon before a conjunction when a sentence made up of two independent clauses contains commas, it is possible to use a semicolon before a conjunction which joins the two independent clauses to outrank any commas in those clauses. But what about lists with colons as separators between list item and its description.
How to use semicolons grammar girl quick and dirty tips. Capitalization after colons in a list english language. Capitalization after colons chicago style and mla style. The semicolon looks like a comma with a period above it, and this can be a good way to remember what it does. Buy our book smashing grammar 2019 written by the founder of grammar monster, smashing grammar includes a glossary of grammar essentials from apostrophes to zeugma and a chapter on easily confused words from affecteffect to whetherif. When you use a semicolon in a sentence, is the word after. The overnight managers connie on weekdays, john on weekends will prepare bakery goods, coffee, and tea before the morning shift arrives. When a colon introduces a list of of things, do not capitalize the first word after the colon unless it is a proper noun. The examples above are both made up of two complete, grammatically correct sentences glued together. A guide to modern usage note that a is capitalized because it is the first word of the subtitle. So i decided to use the supposedly british grammar and only capitalize nouns or acronyms after a colon. Its not the kind of thing that, if you get wrong, people will roll their eyes or giggle behind your back or pass you over for a job or. Also, in your example, a colon might be a better choice than a semicolon.
How to use semicolons grammar girl semicolons create variety one reason you might choose to use a semicolon instead of a period is if you wanted to add variety to your sentence structure. The gregg reference manual, tribute edition 11, page 383. Even native english speakers often use these punctuation marks improperly. Using a lowercase letter after the semicolon looks wrong. Grammar girl, is determined to wipe out bad punctuationbut shes also determined to make the process as painless as possible. Use a semicolon before such words and terms as namely, however, therefore, that is, i. Do not capitalize the first word in a list after a semicolon unless the word is a proper noun, e. A grammar girl why do we use plural form of verbs with the singular subject. Because your second example uses a capital h after the semicolon, it suggests that youre talking about god.
Semicolons punctuation rules the blue book of grammar. According to the gregg reference manual, always insert a comma after i. Should you capitalize the first word of a sentence after a. The train is scheduled to arrive fortyfive minutes late. When a colon introduces a phrase or an incomplete sentence that is meant to add information to the sentence before it, do not capitalize the first word after the colon unless it is a proper noun. Punctuation marks are tools that have set functions. When to capitalize after a colon grammar underground. From the quick and dirty tips series, grammar girl aka mignon fogarty provides you tips to improve your writing in a short and fun format. Notice that the letter following the semicolon is not capitalized.
Grammar and punctuation the blue book of grammar and. All of them can move you to awe with their power and finesse, and all of them can frustrate and disappoint you with their weaknesses. Dont capitalize the word that follows the semicolon unless that word is a proper noun, one that is always capitalized. Often, the decision requires identifying the independent and dependent clauses in the sentence. In addition, if youre quoting someone after a colon, they open their speech or text with a capital letter. The easiest way to listen to podcasts on your iphone, ipad, android, pc, smart. When including these, put a colon after the works title and follow the same rules of composition capitalization for the subtitle. The semicolon prevents the repetition of the comma and keeps apart the more important members of the sentence. In american english, styles differ, but it is best to capitalize. Capitalizing after semicolons or colons crossroads. Colons and semicolons should never be used interchangeably. Capitalize titles of persons when used as part of a proper name but usually not when used alone.
Lots of people arent sure how to use a semicolon the semicolon might be the most misunderstood punctuation mark in the english language. The problem with this construction is that the word because is a subordinating conjunction, which means that it. The semicolon is generally used in long sentences, but you can also use it properly in short ones. Contact us montclair book testimonials cwe accomplishments business and.
Frequently asked questions in this faq youll find answers to common grammatical questions that may provide help with your writing ills. A word is not capitalized after a semicolon as well. Comma with because everything language and grammar. On the other hand, you sometimes have to make a decision about capitalization when you use a colon. Grammar girl explains how to use them well and improve your.
Whats up with words that are spelled the same but sound different. You treat the first word after a dash the same way youd treat it if it followed a comma. Apr 21, 2020 tips and articles from the grammar girl website. Like commas, semicolons indicate an audible pauseslightly longer than a commas, but short of a periods full stop. I learned the hard way that grammar girl readers or at least the readers who like to complain have an overwhelming preference for the more complicated styles. Its no accident that a semicolon is a period atop a comma. Using semicolons before conjunctions and, or, but, etc. Associated press stylebook, you capitalize the first letter after a colon. Should i capitalize the first word after a semicolon or. My feeling is that if you cannot capitalize after a semicolon without changing the sense, then a colon would have done anyway.
A dash doesnt require any extra thought regarding capitalization. She is an inductee in the podcasting hall of fame, and the show is a fivetime winner of best education podcast in the podcast awards. Here are some quick tips for using colons properly. Grammar girl breaks down when and how to use colons, including when formatting lists. Semicolons can also be used in place of commas to separate the items in a list, particularly when the elements of that list contain commas.
I often see writers and editors putting a comma before the word because, for example, this wont surprise anyone who has known her for a long time, because she has always espoused both liberal and conservative perspectives. Thats exactly why you cant substitute a comma for a semicolon. The simple thoughts we overlook and those that keep us up at night are beautifully put into this unique work of art. The most common use of the semicolon is to join two independent clauses without using a conjunction like and. Nor should you use periods, since the phrases are not complete sentences. Ten grammar rules every writer should know writing forward. No, not unless it is a word that would always be capitalized. A semicolon combines two independent clauses into one compound sentence, and it is now just one sentence. She has appeared as a guest on the oprah winfrey show and the today show and has been featured in the new york times, business week, the washington post, usa today, and more. Each entry starts with a simple explanation and basic examples before moving to reallife, entertaining examples. Yes, that means there are four total sentences up thereand thanks to the semicolon, only two capital letters. Do not capitalize the first word in a list after a. The two main clauses that the semicolon joins should be closely related in meaning.
Semicolons can help create variety, emphasize relatedness and separate items in a list. Mignon fogarty is the founder of quick and dirty tips and the author of seven books on language, including the new york times bestseller grammar girl s quick and dirty tips for better writing. It is also common for the nervous system to be damaged due to a direct injury. Grammar girl the famous semicolon advice from vonnegut. A very beautiful and emotional book, divided into 4 sections. Some writers seem to think that semicolons are fancy commas that create longer pauses that commas. One of my favorite old grammar books, titled punctuate it right, has. For those looking for a quick and dirty answer, a word is not capitalized after a colon. Listen to grammar girl quick and dirty tips for better writing episodes free, on demand. In fact, rather surprisingly, the majestic pike is hardly used in cooking today. To distinguish between the comma and the semicolon is an achievement, a real test of understanding punctuation.
The semicolon is made up of a dot and comma and has three different uses in writing. This dotcomma combination is often used where a period, colon, or even a plain old comma belongs. In this excerpt from david thatchers book saving our prepositions, see how. Grammar question do you capitalize the word coming after. Neither this rule nor any of the semicolon rules specifically address capitalization after semicolons.
It is also preferable to use a comma after these words and terms. Keep these three things in mind when you use a semicolon. Heres something you probably never have to worry about. The chicago manual of style chicago style and mla style from the modern language association recommend lowercasing the first word of a sentence after a colon unless the colon precedes multiple closely related sentences, in which case the first word should be capitalized. Grammar question do you capitalize the word coming after a semicolon in a sentence. Previously published as part of grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing online sensation grammar girl makes punctuation fun and easy in grammar girls punctuation 911 mignon fogarty, a. Grammar girl quick and dirty tips for better writing. If the word that comes after a colon or semicolon is a proper name, you definitely would capitalize it. Grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing grammar girl. The only words that should be capitalized after a semicolon are proper nouns, which are.
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