Colon Versus Semi Colon

Question

Hello!Can someone please tell me how to use a colon in a sentence versus a semicolon?The internet didn't hep me too much. Here is how I would use a semi colon:"I like cats; they are beautiful and fun to play with."As far as a colon goes, I know it can be used for listing things. For example: "I need to go to the store because I need: soap, dishes, food, water, and beer."But how can a colon be used like a semi colon? I want to know how to use a colon between two sentences.Thanks,Scott A Schymick

Canadian45 · Accepted Answer

Can someone please tell me how to use a colon in a sentence versus a semicolon?

Here is how I would use a semi colon:

"I like cats; they are beautiful and fun to play with." correct

As far as a colon goes, I know it can be used for listing things. For example:

"I need to go to the store because I need: soap, dishes, food, water, and beer." not correct

1. You have to have a complete sentence before the colon. What comes before the colon there is not a complete sentence.

I need to go to the store because I need many things: soap, dishes............' correct

2. If you omit the colon in your sentence you will have a normal correct sentence.

But how can a colon be used like a semi colon? I want to know how to use a colon between two sentences.

If you have a colon between 'two sentences', it wouldn't be two sentences. A period separates two sentences.

If you mean a colon between two independent clauses, I would use a semicolon there.

I am no expert on colons, but I think you may be asking for the impossible.

Canadian45 · Answer

I thought about this a bit more and researched it a bit, which I could and should have done before my first response.

You can find sentences like the two below.

I'll tell you what I'm going to do: I'm going to quit.

There was only one logical explanation: the train had never arrived.

This use of a colon is explained as being for the situation in which the second clause is (elaborating on)(giving further information about) the first clause. (when you have two independent clauses)

But that situation is no different than in your cat sentence, in which you correctly used a semicolon. And you could also use two sentences, separated by a period of course, in the two colon sentences I brought here.

So, this use of the colon has always struck me as being a bit contrived; maybe the colon fans felt that the colon needed more use.

Anyway, maybe now you have a more complete answer to your question. And maybe my first response showed some bias against the colon being used to separate independent clauses.

Colon Versus Semi Colon

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