After How Many Months Can Parents Generally Distinguish Between the Different Types of Cries?

What this handout is about

This handout explains the about common uses of 3 kinds of punctuation: semicolons (;), colons (:), and dashes (—). After reading the handout, you lot volition be improve able to decide when to employ these forms of punctuation in your own writing.

Semicolons

The semicolon looks like a comma with a period higher up it, and this tin can be a good fashion to remember what it does. A semicolon creates more than separation between thoughts than a comma does merely less than a menses does. Hither are the ii most common uses of the semicolon:

i. To help separate items in a list, when some of those items already contain commas.

Let's wait at an case, as that is the easiest way to understand this use of the semicolon. Suppose I want to list iii items that I bought at the grocery store:

apples
grapes
pears

In a judgement, I would separate these items with commas:

I bought apples, grapes, and pears.

Now suppose that the three items I desire to list are described in phrases that already incorporate some commas:

shiny, ripe apples
pocket-size, sweetness, juicy grapes
firm pears

If I use commas to split up these items, my sentence looks like this:

I bought shiny, ripe apples, pocket-sized, sweet, juicy grapes, and business firm pears.

That middle part is a chip confusing—it doesn't give the reader many visual cues about how many items are in the list, or about which words should be grouped together. Hither is where the semicolon tin can help. The commas betwixt items can be "bumped up" a notch and turned into semicolons, so that readers can easily tell how many items are in the listing and which words go together:

I bought shiny, ripe apples; small, sweet, juicy grapes; and firm pears.

2. To bring together two sentences.

An independent clause is a group of words that can stand on its own (independently)—it is a consummate sentence. Semicolons tin can be used betwixt two contained clauses. The semicolon keeps the clauses somewhat separate, like a period would do, so we tin can easily tell which ideas belong to which clause. But it too suggests that at that place may be a close relationship between the 2 clauses—closer than you would look if at that place were a menstruum between them. Allow'due south look at a few examples. Here are a few fine independent clauses, standing on their ain equally complete sentences:

I went to the grocery store today. I bought a ton of fruit. Apples, grapes, and pears were on sale.

Now—where could semicolons fit in here? They could be used to bring together two (merely not all three) of the independent clauses together. Then either of these pairs of sentences would be okay:

I went to the grocery shop today; I bought a ton of fruit. Apples, grapes, and pears were all on sale.

OR

I went to the grocery store today. I bought a ton of fruit; apples, grapes, and pears were all on sale.

I could NOT exercise this:

I went to the grocery store today; I bought a ton of fruit; apples, grapes, and pears were all on auction.

But why would I want to use a semicolon here, anyway? I reason might take to do with style: the iii short sentences sound kind of choppy or abrupt. A stronger reason might be if I wanted to emphasize a relationship betwixt two of the sentences. If I connect "I bought a ton of fruit" and "Apples, grapes, and pears were all on sale" more closely, readers may realize that the reason why I bought and so much fruit is that there was a great sale on information technology.

Colons

Colons follow independent clauses (clauses that could stand lone as sentences) and tin be used to nowadays an explanation, draw attention to something, or join ideas together.

Common uses of colons

one. To denote, introduce, or direct attention to a list, a noun or substantive phrase, a quotation, or an case/explanation. You can use a colon to depict attending to many things in your writing. The categories listed below often overlap, and so don't worry too much about whether your intended use of the colon fits one category perfectly.

Lists/series example:

We covered many of the fundamentals in our writing class: grammar, punctuation, style, and voice.

Noun/noun phrase example:

My roommate gave me the things I needed most: companionship and quiet.

Quotation case:

Shakespeare said it best: "To thine ain self be truthful."

Example/explanation example: Many graduate students discover that in that location is a dark side to academia: late nights, high stress, and a crippling addiction to caffeinated beverages.

two. To join sentences. You tin can use a colon to connect ii sentences when the second sentence summarizes, sharpens, or explains the starting time. Both sentences should exist complete, and their content should be very closely related. Note that if you use colons this way too often, it tin can suspension up the flow of your writing. And then don't get carried abroad with your colons!

Example: Life is like a puzzle: half the fun is in trying to work it out.

iii. To limited fourth dimension, in titles, and as role of other writing conventions. Colons announced in several standard or conventional places in writing. Here are a few examples:

• With numbers. Colons are used to carve up units of time (four:45:00 expresses four hours, forty-5 minutes, and zero seconds); ratios (two:1), and Bible verses and chapters (Matthew 2:24).

• In bibliography entries. Many citation styles utilize a colon to separate information in bibliography entries.

Case: Kurlansky, M. (2002). Salt: A world history. New York, NY: Walker and Co.

• With subtitles. Colons are used to separate titles from subtitles.

Case: Everest: The Last Frontier

• Later on the salutation in a formal business letter. A colon can be used immediately afterwards the greeting in a formal alphabetic character (less-formal messages tend to utilise a comma in this location).

Example: To Whom It May Concern: Please take my awarding for the position advertised in the News and Observer.

Common colon mistakes

1. Using a colon between a verb and its object or complement

Instance (incorrect):The very best peaches are: those that are grown in the great state of Georgia.

To correct this, only remove the colon.

2. Using a colon between a preposition and its object

Example (incorrect): My favorite cake is fabricated of: carrots, flour, butter, eggs, and cream cheese icing.

To correct this, merely remove the colon.

3. Using a colon later "such as," "including," "especially," and similar phrases. This violates the rule that the material preceding the colon must be a complete thought. Look, for example, at the following sentence:

Instance (wrong): There are many dissimilar types of paper, including: college ruled, broad ruled, and plain copy paper.

Y'all can meet that "There are many different types of paper, including" is not a complete judgement. The colon should merely exist removed.

How to check for mistakes

Ask yourself a question: does the material preceding the colon stand on its own? One style to tell if the colon has been properly used is to expect only at the words that come in front of the colon. Do they make a complete thought? If not, you lot may be using the colon improperly. Cheque in a higher place to encounter if yous take made 1 of the nearly common mistakes.

Should you capitalize the showtime letter subsequently a colon?

Dissimilar citation styles (such as MLA, APA, Chicago, and AMA) have slightly unlike rules regarding whether to capitalize the get-go letter after a colon. If it is important that yous follow ane of these styles precisely, exist sure to use the appropriate manual to expect up the rule.

Here'southward our suggestion: more often than not, the starting time word following the colon should be lower-cased if the words later the colon form a dependent clause (that is, if they could not stand on their ain as a complete sentence). If the following phrase is a complete (independent) clause, you may choose to capitalize it or non. Whichever arroyo you choose, be certain to exist consistent throughout your newspaper.

Example with an contained clause, showing two different approaches to capitalization:
The commercials had 1 bulletin: The geeks shall inherit the world. (correct)
The commercials had one message: the geeks shall inherit the earth. (correct)

Case with a dependent clause (which is not capitalized):
There are three perfect times to grinning: when I'm with friends, when I'm solitary, and when I'g with my dog. (correct)

Dashes

The kickoff matter to know when talking most dashes is that they are nearly never required past the laws of grammar and punctuation. Overusing dashes can intermission up the flow of your writing, making information technology inclement or fifty-fifty difficult to follow, and then don't overdo it.

Information technology'southward also important to distinguish between dashes and hyphens. Hyphens are shorter lines (-); they are nearly oft used to show connections betwixt words that are working as a unit (for example, you lot might meet adjectives like "well-intentioned") or to spell certain words (like "e-mail").

With that background information in mind, let's take a look at some means to put dashes to work in your writing.

i. To gear up off fabric for emphasis. Remember of dashes as the contrary of parentheses. Where parentheses point that the reader should put less emphasis on the enclosed material, dashes indicate that the reader should pay more attention to the textile between the dashes. Dashes add together drama—parentheses whisper. Dashes can be used for emphasis in several means:
A unmarried nuance can emphasize material at the beginning or end of a sentence.

Example: Afterward eighty years of dreaming, the elderly man realized information technology was time to finally revisit the land of his youth—Republic of ireland.

Example: "The Function"—a harmless television program or a dangerously subversive guide to delinquency in the workplace?

Two dashes can emphasize textile in the middle of a judgement. Some style and grammar guides even permit you to write a complete sentence within the dashes.

Example: Everything I saw in my new neighborhood—from the graceful elm trees to the stately brick buildings—reminded me of my alma mater.

Example (complete judgement): The students—they were each over the age of eighteen—lined upward in the streets to vote for the presidential candidates.

2 dashes tin emphasize a modifier. Words or phrases that describe a noun can exist prepare off with dashes if you wish to emphasize them.

Example: The fairgrounds—cold and wet in the October pelting—were deserted.

Example: Nettie—her mentum held high—walked out into the storm.

two. To indicate sentence introductions or conclusions. Y'all can sometimes use a dash to help readers run across that certain words are meant as an introduction or conclusion to your sentence.

Example: Books, paper, pencils—many students lacked even the simplest tools for learning in nineteenth-century America.

Instance: To amend their health, Americans should critically examine the foods that they eat—fast food, fat fried foods, junk food, and sugary snacks.

3. To mark "bonus phrases." Phrases that add information or clarify just are not necessary to the meaning of a sentence are ordinarily set up off with commas. But when the phrase itself already contains one or more commas, dashes can aid readers empathize the sentence.

Slightly confusing example with commas: Even the simplest tasks, washing, dressing, and going to work, were nearly impossible later I broke my leg.

Better example with dashes: Even the simplest tasks—washing, dressing, and going to piece of work—were nearly impossible afterward I bankrupt my leg.

4. To break up dialogue. In written dialogue, if a speaker suddenly or abruptly stops speaking, hesitates in speech, or is cutting off by another speaker, a dash can indicate the interruption or interruption.

Example: "I—I don't know what you're talking about," denied the political leader.

Example: Mimi began to explain herself, saying, "I was thinking—" "I don't care what you lot were thinking," Rodolpho interrupted.

We hope that this handout has helped yous better understand colons, semicolons, and dashes! For more information about punctuation, be sure to check out our handout on commas.

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You lot may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you lot employ the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Heart, University of North Carolina at Chapel Colina

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Source: https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/semi-colons-colons-and-dashes/

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