**Note: These rules are for writing books. My source is the Chicago Manual of Style. If you are writing articles, some of the rules are a bit different. Refer to the Associated Press Stylebook if you are writing articles.
I. The Colon
A. Capitalization
How do you know whether or not to capitalize the first word following a colon? Always have the word be lowercase except in the following circumstances:
1. If the first word is a proper noun.
Ex: The people who should be on the bus are the following: Mark, Christa, Drew, and Kelley.
2. If the colon precedes a definition or a direct quote.
Ex: When Christy got angry at Karen, Jill told her not to Jake out: An act or instance of turning into a werewolf. (Inspired by the book Twilight.)
Ex: The poignant words of Douglas Adams state: “Flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”
3. If the colon comes before two or more related sentences.
Ex: Robert had three options: He could walk the six miles to the library. He could call someone and beg a ride. Or he could just take Grandma Nan’s car.
4. If the colon introduces dialogue lines in a speech or drama.
Ex: Juliette: Then, window, let day in, and let life out.
Romeo: Farewell, farewell! One kiss and I’ll descend.
B. Where to use a colon
A colon means as follows. It is used to introduce something (or a series of things).
1. Use a colon after a complete sentence to direct attention to a list.
Ex: Marcia’s daily workout was supposed to include at least the following: twenty sit-ups, ten push-ups, and fifteen minutes of cardio.
Ex: Give us the following construction materials: wood, hammers, and nails.
Ex: This summer our family plans to visit four western states: Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico.
2. Use a colon after a complete sentence to direct attention to an appositive: A word or phrase that means the same thing.
Ex: Shelby was shocked at what she saw: her reflection.
Ex: We found Fluffy sleeping in her favorite spot: the tree in the backyard.
Ex: There is one obstacle I must conquer before graduation: passing all my classes.
3. Use a colon after a complete sentence to direct attention to a quotation.
Ex: Consider the words of Mother Theresa: “Even the rich are hungry for love, for being cared for, for being wanted, for having someone to call their own.”
II. The Semicolon
1. A semicolon is used to separate closely related independent clauses not joined by a coordinating conjunction.
Say what?
Basically, use a semicolon if you want to glue two sentences together that are similar.
Ex: Hate begets hate; violence begets violence; toughness begets a greater toughness. (Martin Luther King, Jr.)
Ex: Ten finalists performed to be the next American Idol; only two remain.
Ex: Mr. Sanchez is a successful chef; however, he won’t eat his own cooking.
Each of the independent clauses (or sets of words between the semicolons) are complete sentences on their own. You can’t use a semicolon if these are only phrases. You also can’t use a semi colon if you have a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or) between the sentences.
If you did put a comma where a semicolon is above, you will have created a comma splice, which is a very icky error. Be sure to look carefully at all your clauses. If they are complete sentences, you need a semicolon. If they aren’t, you don’t need a semicolon.
2. A semicolon is also used between items in a series that contain internal punctuation.
Ex: The classic fantasy novels that are big right now are Harry Potter, with the boy wizard with a lightning bolt scar; Eragon, with the young dragon rider; and the timeless Chronicles of Narnia, where children enter a magical land through a wardrobe.
III. Dashes
There are two kinds of dashes that are used most often in writing: and em dash — and an en dash –
Please note that there should be NO SPACE before or after either type of dash.
A. The em dash
To create the em dash, type a word, then type two hyphens, then type the next word, then type a space. Do not put any spaces until you are done with the sequence.
What you type will look like this: word–word(space)
When you hit that last space bar, the two dashes will convert to an em dash.
1. Use an em dash to set off parenthetical material that you want to emphasize.
Ex: Everything that went wrong—from her C- on our history project to Tom breaking up with her—Shelly blamed on me.
Ex: Can you believe that Susie Walker—a cheerleader and a freshman—won homecoming queen?
2. Use an em dash to set off appositives that contain commas.
Ex: When you apply the make-up—foundation, mascara, eye shadow, and lipstick—be sure to follow the guidelines.
3. Use an em dash to signify a break it thought.
Ex: “I can’t believe Mr. Thomas—did you just say she had the baby?”
4. Use an em dash to signify an interruption.
Ex: “I don’t know why it happened. Maybe it’s because—”
“I don’t want to head an excuse. I’m sick of them!”
B. The en dash
To create the en dash, type a word, type a space, then type one hyphen, then type the next word, then type a space. What you type will look like this: word(space)-word(space)
When you hit that last space bar, the dash will convert to an en dash. NOTE: You will have to go back and take out the first space once the dash is converted. It is proper format that no space appear before or after the dash. If you read Harry Potter, you will see spaces with her dashes. Keep in mind that J. K. Rowling is a British author and the punctuation and grammar rules are different there. I am teaching the rules for the United States.
1. Use an en dash to connect inclusive numbers such as: page numbers, dates, or Bible references. Here the en dash means ‘up to and including’ or ‘through.’
Ex: Please read in your text pages 86–92.
Ex: I went to college from 1993–1997.
Ex: I read John 3:16–17 and it changed my life.
IV. Ellipses
Ellipsis are used to show thought trailing off. If your character is confused, insecure, uncertain, falling asleep, or passing out, an ellipses is the tool you want to convey this.
Ex: “Where . . . I had it right . . . then medallion . . . I must have dropped it!”
Ex: “I want to go there . . . first thing . . . in the morning.”
Ex: “Okay. I’ll tell you who shot me. It was . . .” Kit’s body went limp in John’s arms.
V. Apostrophes
Use an apostrophe to replace omitted letters in a word. If your font uses curly quotes, make sure that the apostrophe curls in the right direction. This way in the front: ’ and this way in the back: ’
Ex: “There be no tellin’ what he’ll do now.” (The apostrophe takes the place of the “g” in “telling.”
Ex: “All you kids do is sit around listening to that loud rock ’n’ roll.” (The apostrophe before the “n” takes the place of the “a” in “and.” The apostrophe after the “n” takes the place of the “d” ion “and”.
Ex: “I won’t come out ’til you promise not to laugh!” (The apostrophe takes the place of the “un” in “until.”
VI. Numbers
Spell out numbers round numbers (hundreds, millions). Spell out numbers one through one hundred. Spell out numbers in reference to age. Spell out all numbers that begin a sentence. Use numerals (1234) for all other numbers.
Ex: Michael crouched down. “There are millions of ants here!”
Ex: “I need two hundred and fifty copies of the flyer,” Megan said.
Ex: “I need 2,500 copies of the flyer,” Megan said.
Ex: “She’s ninety-six years old!”
Ex: “One, I can’t understand why you hate me. And two, I don’t like you either.”
VII. Time
Always spell out the time of day unless you are referring to the exact time.
Ex: Drew went to be at five o’clock exhausted from the tournament.
Ex: “Mom slept in and I missed my nine-thirty dentist appointment.”
Ex: “I get to church way early because the Sunday bus goes by my house at 7:10.”
Ex: “Class starts directly at 8:35 tomorrow morning. Don’t be late!”
VIII. Dates
Dates are written with numerals. Do not write August 1st.
Ex: August 1.
Ex: “On January 1, 2000, there were no major fallouts due to the new millennium.”
Ex: “The photograph is copyright April 1942.”
Ex: On 5 February, 1903 Mario and his family arrived in America.
When a day is mentioned without the month or year, spell out the number.
Ex: “By the fifteenth, finals will be over and we can focus on the Christmas holidays!”
There are TONS more rules. Like I mentioned last month, if you are serious about writing, get yourself a grammar reference book. Again, my recommendations are: Strunk, White, and Angell’s Elements of Style, O’Conner’s Woe Is I: A Grammaphobe’s Guide to Better English in Plain English, two books by Bill Walsh, Elephants of Style and Lapsing Into a Comma, as well as Cochrane and Humphry’s Between You and I: A Little Book of Bad English.
Or, if you want to be really thorough, get a copy of The Chicago Manual of Style if you are writing books. It has all the rules you never wanted to know. If you are writing articles for newspapers or magazines, get a copy of the Associated Press Stylebook.
This ends my thoughts on punctuation. Next post I’ll get into something more exciting by discussing description. The fact that you must describe, and how to describe things without boring your readers to death, without taking eight pages to do it, and without using clichés.
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