Colon and semi-colon

Question

What are the difference uses of these?

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

A semicolon is like a period: it separates two independent clauses that are more closely related in the narrative than 2 separate sentences are. A semicolon is also used to separate items in a list when the items have internal commas.

A colon separates an independent clause from further information (a 2nd clause or less than a clause) that explains or exemplifies the first clause.

Cavalier King · Answer

Colon:

A punctuation mark (:) indicating
That a writer is introducing a quotation or a list of items
That a writer is separating two clauses of which the second expands or illustrates the first
A statement of proportion between two numbers
- a ratio of 10:1
The separation of hours from minutes (and minutes from seconds) in a statement of time given in numbers
- 4:30 p.m.
The number of the chapter and verse respectively in biblical references

Exodus 3:2

Semicolon:

A punctuation mark (;) indicating a pause, typically between two main clauses, that is more pronounced than that indicated by a comma.

a punctuation mark (`;') used to connect independent clauses; indicates a closer relation than does a period

http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=semicolon

The semicolon ( ; ) is a punctuation mark with several uses. The Italian printer Aldus Manutius the Elder established the practice of using the semicolon mark to separate words of opposed meaning, and to indicate interdependent statements. ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semicolon

The punctuation mark ';'

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/semicolon

(Semicolons) Transvestite hermaphrodites, representing exactly nothing. All they do is suggest you might have gone to college.

http://livinglive.tumblr.com/post/1580324829/kurt-vonnegut-dictionary

n. the standard character that is called ``semicolon'' (;). See Figure 2-5.

http://www.lispworks.com/documentation/HyperSpec/Body/26_glo_s.htm

A semi-colon has a special meaning in Pd, therefore its also an atom

http://puredata.info/dev/HansDataTypeDefinitions

Link – Bartolo Colon. A punctuation mark signifiying a pregnant pause – one that should be taken literally and figuratively before starting this former Cy Young Award winner who is clearly half the pitcher he once was (talent-wise, anyway). (full credit to BaronVonVulturewins)

http://razzball.com/fantasy-baseball-terms/

A punctuation mark which indicates a pause longer than a comma, but shorter than a colon

http://www.mantex.co.uk/2009/09/15/english-language-a-glossary-of-terms/

A semicolon indicates the equivalent of two commas, so that it is one-half eDuppu or two additional aksharakaalas. Thus if srgm becomes s;m then sa is first one count but in the second phrase it takes 3 counts

http://www.karnatik.com/glosss.shtml

A punctuation mark used to separate two parts of a compound sentence when they are not connected by a conjunction.

http://rmfs1.ortn.edu/myschool/mcain/Web/Grammar Flashcards.mht

A mark of punctuation, ";", indicating a degree of separation, intermediate between the comma and the period.

http://handwritingexperts.org/handwritingdictionary.html

Tells the compiler where to end a line.

http://www.theflashstudio.net/basics/_as3/syntax.php

Used to end a simple statement.

http://www.cs101.org/ipij/glossary.html

h9 me/sh stigmh/ (DT.4; cf. LSJ u9postigmh/; from David Brown)

http://ancientstudiesinstitute.org/greekgrammarvocabulary.html

Colon and semi-colon

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