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About the Author: Markskrill
When should you use a colon and semicolon?
It's ya boi, Markskrill, back at it again with another ripper blog post. Now, I know what you're thinkin': "Colons and semicolons? Snoozefest!" But hold your horses, mate, 'cause I'm gonna break it down for ya in a way that'll make ya laugh and learn at the same time.
Colons: The Attention-Grabber
Think of a colon as that mate who rocks up to a party and yells, "Listen up, everyone!" It's all about introducing somethin' important, like a list, an explanation, or a quote that'll make ya think.
Here's the gist:
- Lists: Use a colon after a complete sentence to introduce a list of items.Example: I'm gonna head to the bottle-o and grab some essentials: a slab of VB, a packet of Tim Tams, and a jar of Vegemite.
- Explanations: Use a colon to introduce an explanation or a reason.Example: I reckon the barbie's cactus, mate: the gas bottle's empty.
- Quotes: Use a colon to introduce a quote that's longer than a few words.Example: As the great philosopher Crocodile Dundee once said: "That's not a knife... THIS is a knife!"
Semicolons: The Peacemaker
Now, the semicolon is a bit trickier, kinda like tryin' to herd a bunch of kangaroos. It's used to join two closely related sentences without a full stop. Think of it as a way of sayin', "Hang on, there's more to this story!"
Here's the lowdown:
- Joinin' sentences: Use a semicolon to connect two sentences that are closely related in meaning.Example: I reckon we should head to the beach; the weather's bonza today.
- Clarity in lists: Use semicolons to separate items in a complex list where commas are already used within the items.Example: I've visited heaps of places around Australia, like Cairns, Queensland; Broome, Western Australia; and Darwin, Northern Territory.
Just remember, if you're ever unsure whether to use a colon or a semicolon, don't get your knickers in a knot! There's no shame in rephrasing your sentence or using a full stop.
So there ya have it, mates! Colons and semicolons, explained in a way that even a galah could understand. Now go forth and punctuate like a pro!
References
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