Punctuation makes your writing easier to read and understand, but it can be tricky to master. As an editor and proofreader, I often notice people confusing semi-colons and colons, so we'll explore the difference between them. And because both are often used in lists, we'll also look at the humble comma – and its sometimes-controversional cousin, the Oxford comma.
Semi-colons and colons both connect phrases in a sentence but are used in different situations.
Understanding colons
Colons introduce important information and explanations. They're often used before lists as a replacement for phrases like "they are" and "which is":
- He offered me a choice of drinks: tea, coffee or hot chocolate.
- I packed the essentials in my bag: water, pens and a magazine.
- She speaks three languages: English, French and Portuguese.
You can also think of a colon as a spotlight, with the phrase that comes after the colon explaining or expanding what came before it.
- In 1903, travel was changed forever by an important event: Orville and Wilbur Wright's first successful flight.
- He loves visiting the animals at the farm: cows are his favourite.
- There is one rule I live by: I treat others as I wish to be treated.
The secrets of semi-colons
A semi-colon links two ideas that are closely related and that would be two complete sentences if you used a period instead. They give a softer transition than a period would, and they're often used instead of conjunctions like "and", "but" and "because":
- I love eating pizza; my sister loves eating burgers.
- I wanted to go for a swim; I couldn't find my goggles.
- I'm going to the park; the weather is beautiful.
Semi-colons also seperate items in long lists to make life easier for the reader and stop a sentence becoming a sea of apostrophes. For example:
- I've got my shopping list ready: peppers, carrots and oranges from the market; toothpaste, shampoo and pain relief from the drugstore; and a newspaper, snack and drink from the newsstand.
Standard comma or Oxford comma?
An Oxford comma goes before "and" or "or" at the end of a list. The first example has an Oxford comma, the second doesn't.
- Please bring me a sandwich made with cheese, lettuce, and tomato.
- Please bring me a sandwich made with cheese, lettuce and tomato.
American English generally favors the Oxford comma, British English typically omits it, unless needed for clarity. Compare:
- I love my parents, Taylor Swift and Keanu Reeves.
- I love my parents, Taylor Swift, and Keanu Reeves.
As with many areas of punctuation, whether you choose to use the Oxford comma is a matter of personal preference. However, the most important thing is to be consistent in your usage.
