Plagarized Punctuation Guide #2

I give credit, though. This is from https://allthingsfreelancewriting.com/blog/punctuation-guide/

The article is just too good not to share. More next time and last time.

Now that we’ve covered dashes in-depth, let’s move on to colons and semicolons. Semicolons look a lot like colons, have similar uses, and are even located on the same computer key — no wonder so many people get them confused! But, they are different so let’s take a closer look at when to use each.

Colons

A colon looks like two stacked periods (:).

How to type a colon

The colon is found to the right of the “L” on the middle row of U.S. keyboards. It’s on the same key as the semi-colon and you must press shift along with the button to get the regular colon.

When to use a colon

Colons signal to readers that important information is coming, whether that’s a list, an example, a quote, or a noun or noun phrase. Here’s an example:

• In the words of Nelson Mandela: “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”

Writers also use colons in article titles to tack on interesting subtitles as you can see below:

• Surfer SEO Review: Boost Your Google Rankings

Much like an em dash, a colon can be used to connect two sentences in a way that adds emphasis. The second sentence will usually explain, demonstrate, or add extra detail to the first.

• Life is like a box of chocolates: you never know what you’re going to get.

Semicolons

A semicolon looks like a period stacked on top of a comma (;).

How to type a semicolon

As mentioned above, the colon and semicolon share the same key to the right of the “L” key. To type a semicolon, simply tap that key. Easy peasy!

When to use a semicolon

Like colons, semicolons can be used to link two related sentences, but they don’t provide as much emphasis. They usually take the place of connecting words and conjunctions (e.g. and, but, or, so), as shown in the example below.

• I like ice cream; I eat it all the time.

Semicolons can also be used in conjunction with linking adverbs (e.g. however, likewise, further, also, besides).

• I would love to pursue a side hustle; however, I don’t think I have enough time.

Finally, you can use semicolons in lists to separate items that contain commas so readers don’t get confused.

• Recently I visited New Orleans, Louisiana; Mobile, Alabama; and Los Angeles, California.