MEC 4

PUNCTUATION – LESSON 152

The Colon

• To indicate that an initial clause in a sentence will be further explained or illustrated.

e.g.: There is only one way to survive here: we have to help each other.

The first word of the second clause may be CAPITALIZED or not.

e.g.: There is only one way to survive here: We

have to help each other.

Colon

• To introduce a long formal statement, a quotation, or a question.

e.g.: After a long pause, the judge said: “You are innocent.”

The question is: Can you finish this exam in just ten minutes?

The first word of the second clause MUST be CAPITALIZED.

Colon

• To introduce a list of items, examples, or the like.

e.g.: I need four things: food, shelter, water, and love.

My mom makes three kinds of food for Thanksgiving: turkey, sweet potatoes, and dressing.

Colon

• The COLON is often preceded by such words as these, the following or as follows.

e.g.: I have lots of things to do tomorrow. But the following are the priorities: taking Sam to the doctor, getting Maggie’s medicine, going to the garage to have the car fixed and buying Edward a birthday gift.

COLON

• Notice that in the previous sentence, the verbs that follow the colon are expressed in Parallel Grammatical Structure.

e.g.: I have lots of things to do tomorrow. But the following the priorities: take Sam to the doctor, get Maggie’s medicine, go to the garage to have the car fixed and buy Edward a birthday gift.

Colon

• Colons follow labels that identify important ideas meant to get attention.

e.g.: Warning: To be opened by authorized personnel only.

Notice: Do not use after October 15th.

Colon

• Salutation in FORMAL letters.

e.g.: Dear Mr. Smith:

Gentlemen:

REMEMBER:

In INFORMAL letters, use a COMMA.

e.g.: Dear Mary,

Colon

• To separate HOURS from MINUTES.

e.g.: 10:05

12:00

Semicolon

• To separate two independent clauses that are not connected by a conjunction.

e.g.: I like you; John likes you, too.

If he goes to the party; I won’t take Susan.

Semicolon

• To join independent clauses that are connected by such adverb conjunctions:

therefore, however nevertheless, hence, thus, moreover, consequently, besides, furthermore and otherwise.

Semicolon

e.g.: He has to study; otherwise, he will flunk.

1.It is also possible to substitute the semicolon.

He has to study. Otherwise, he will flunk.

2. A comma generally follows the adverb conjunctions.

Semicolon

• When the items in a series themselves contain commas, separate the items with semicolons.

e.g.: We visited Erie, Pennsylvania; Buffalo, New York; and Toronto, Ontario.

Semicolon

• To join an initial clause that is introduced by the following expressions or words:

e.g. = for example

that is

i.e. = that is

in fact

for instance

namely

Semicolon

e.g.: Three students were mentioned; namely John, Sarah and Sylvia.

The film is only open to adults; i.e. people over 18.

Hyphen

• Hyphens are used internally in some compound words to separate the words forming the compound word.

e.g.: merry-go-round    editor-in-chief

When unsure of the hyphenation of such words, check a dictionary. Usage may vary. As some words are more widely used, the hyphen in dropped. For example, in the early 1800's the word blackbird was usually spelled black-bird. Now the hyphen has been dropped.

Hyphen

• Hyphens connect the words of a compound modifier that comes before the word being modified. Hyphens are not used this way with compound parts ending in -ly or made up of proper nouns or proper adjectives.

Hyphen - FYI

• A proper noun is a noun which names a specific person, place, or thing. (person’s name, pet’s name, monuments, places, historical events, days of the week, months, etc)

Hyphen - FYI

• A proper noun used as an adjective or an adjective formed from a proper noun is called a proper adjective.

• Proper adjectives are normally capitalized. This includes brand names.

e.g.: Syrian food    a Kodak® camera

Hyphen

e.g.: He is a well-respected man. (A compound modifier before the noun.)

That man is well respected. (The modifier follows the noun, no hyphen.)

Hyphen

e.g.: That was a badly punctuated sentence. (Modifier ends in -ly, no hyphen.)

The South American rain forest is home to hundreds of species of hummingbirds.

(Modifier is proper, no hyphen.)

Hyphen

• To spell a word

e.g.: S-T-U-D-E-N-T

• To divide a word into syllables

e.g.: inter-na-tion-al

• Numbers from 21 to 99

e.g.: twenty-one ninety-nine

Let’s check! Use Colon, Semicolon, Hyphen or X (no punctuation needed.)

1) I am very upset. My mother ( ) in ( )

is coming to visit us.

2) There is only one person for this kind of

job ( ) Mr. Nakajima.

3) There are seventy ( ) five people over there.

4) If I were you, I would only do one thing right now ( ) study hard.

- -

:-

:

Let’s continue!

5) Three students were ( ) mentioned ( ) namely John, Mary and Sue.

6) The following people are waiting outside

( ) Mr. Sardella, president ( ) Mrs. Smith, vice ( ) president ( ) and ( ) Mr. Baldwin, treasurer.

7) I have to bring lots of things tomorrow ( ) 5 books, 10 pencils and 25 notebooks.

X ;

: ;- X,

:

Keep up the good work!

8) I think ( ) you should give more attention to some special people ( ) your wife and kids.

9) Your mother wants you to do the following ( ) wash the dishes, prepare dinner, help Michael do his homework and water the plants.

10) Formal Letter. Dear sirs ( )

X:

:

: