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Dear Dr English

Could you please explain when to use a colon and when a semicolon?

The colon is used generally in front of a list or explanation where the explanation takes the form of a separate sentence:

We need a few ingredients to make this desert: rice flour, coconut milk, sugar and sesame seeds.

We cannot keep this injured bird at home: how can we keep it safe from our two cats?

The colon is also used after introductory headings:

Venue: Rama IX Park

Time:  1600-1800 hours

and in front of the second part of a book title:

Sudden wealth: Ten easy steps to getting rich in 24 hours

The semicolon is used in formal writing to separate clauses that are closely related and could be written in separate sentences or linked by "and", "or" or "but":

The old woman was thinking of a reason to make her grown-up son stay with her; it would have to be one he could not refuse.

She really wants to live with him; her parents will not agree.

Many scientists have joined forces to discover a medicine that will eliminate drug-resistant viruses; the longer it takes to find one, the more new strands occur.

We must keep this food chain connected; otherwise the forest will completely lose its ecosystem.

We also use the semicolon between items in a list which themselves contain commas:

Check that we have these items packed for the trip: two tents, preferably nylon ones; four sleeping bags, if Maud is coming with us; fresh water, tinned food and a puncture kit.

I hope this helps.

By Dr English

drenglish_7@hotmail.com

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