Mastering Semi-Colons and Colons: A Guide to Improve Your Writing
Q2 Grammar
9 Honors 2019
Semi-Colons
Our friend the semicolon
?
Semicolons help you connect
closely related
ideas when a style mark stronger than a comma
is needed. By using semicolons effectively, you
can make your writing sound more
sophisticated.
?
There are 3 instances when you can use a
semicolon to improve the conventions in your
writing.
#1: Link 2 Independent clauses to
connect closely related ideas
Lynn and Pat are friends. Every week they get
coffee.
Becomes……
Lynn and Pat are friends
;
every week they get
coffee.
#2: Link clauses connected by conjunctive
adverbs/transitional phrases
Kim never exercises. She is very out of shape.
Becomes…..
Kim never exercises
;
consequently, she is very out
of shape.
#3: Link lists where the items contain commas
to avoid confusion between list items
There are basically two ways to write: with a pen
or pencil, which is inexpensive and easily
accessible
;
or by computer and printer, which is
more expensive but quick and neat.
Now you try! Re-write the following
sentences using semi-colons!
1.
I like cows. I hate the way they smell.
2.
I like cows: they give us milk, which tastes good,
they give us beef, which also tastes good, and they
give us leather, which is used for shoes and coats.
3.
I only eat grass fed beef. Feeding cows corn is
unnatural.
1.
Write your own sentence about football using a
semicolon and a conjunctive adverb/transitional
phrase. ☺
Colons
Colon
The colon is used to separate two
independent clauses when the second
explains or illustrates the first.
Reason #1
?
Use a colon when providing a list
?
Example: There are three types of
muscle in the body: cardiac, smooth,
and skeletal.
Reason #2
?
To signal further clarification.
?
We have two options here: stay and
fight, or run like the wind.
Paraphrase
Paraphrase
express the meaning of a written or
spoken passage using different words,
especially to achieve greater clarity.
Example
?
Original: According to Tim Anderson, the author of
“Cruise Costs,” “The price of a cruise vacation
typically includes meals, entertainment and
equipment rentals, which makes your trip more cost-
effective.”
?
Paraphrase: Tim Anderson, author of “Cruise Costs,”
found that cruises can be a less expensive vacation.
Information to know
?
You must still cite paraphrases with
the author/title
?
Do NOT put quotation marks around
the paraphrase-this is no longer the
word for word idea of the author
Infinitive phrase
Infinitive phrase
?
a group of words that uses an
infinitive (“to” + verb)
?
They can be nouns, adjectives, or
adverbs
Examples
?
To smash a spider.
?
To kick the ball past the goalie.
Participle Phrases
First, let’s learn about participles...
?
Participle definition:
?
verb form that acts as an adjective
?
Two types: Past and present
?
Past: -ed
?
Present: -ing
?
Example:
?
Cooked (past)
?
Cooking (present)
Participle Phrases
?
A participial phrase starts with a
participle and includes other
modifiers and direct objects
Examples:
?
Cooking his own dinners for a year,
Dave managed to save over $500.
?
Played by millions, soccer is popular
all around the world
Learn how to effectively use semi-colons and colons to enhance the sophistication of your writing. Discover examples and techniques to link ideas, create lists, and provide explanations in your sentences. Improve your writing conventions with the help of these punctuation marks.
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Presentation Transcript
Q2 Grammar 9 Honors 2019
Our friend the semicolon ? Semicolons help you connect closely related ideas when a style mark stronger than a comma is needed. By using semicolons effectively, you can make your writing sound more sophisticated. ? There are 3 instances when you can use a semicolon to improve the conventions in your writing.
#1: Link 2 Independent clauses to connect closely related ideas Lynn and Pat are friends. Every week they get coffee. Becomes Lynn and Pat are friends; every week they get coffee.
#2: Link clauses connected by conjunctive adverbs/transitional phrases Kim never exercises. She is very out of shape. Becomes .. Kim never exercises; consequently, she is very out of shape.
#3: Link lists where the items contain commas to avoid confusion between list items There are basically two ways to write: with a pen or pencil, which is inexpensive and easily accessible; or by computer and printer, which is more expensive but quick and neat.
Now you try! Re-write the following sentences using semi-colons! 1. I like cows. I hate the way they smell. 2. I like cows: they give us milk, which tastes good, they give us beef, which also tastes good, and they give us leather, which is used for shoes and coats. 3. I only eat grass fed beef. Feeding cows corn is unnatural. 1. Write your own sentence about football using a semicolon and a conjunctive adverb/transitional phrase.
Colon The colon is used to separate two independent clauses when the second explains or illustrates the first.
Reason #1 ? Use a colon when providing a list ? Example: There are three types of muscle in the body: cardiac, smooth, and skeletal.
Reason #2 ? To signal further clarification. ? We have two options here: stay and fight, or run like the wind.
Paraphrase express the meaning of a written or spoken passage using different words, especially to achieve greater clarity.
Example ? Original: According to Tim Anderson, the author of Cruise Costs, The price of a cruise vacation typically includes meals, entertainment and equipment rentals, which makes your trip more cost- effective. ? Paraphrase: Tim Anderson, author of Cruise Costs, found that cruises can be a less expensive vacation.
Information to know ? You must still cite paraphrases with the author/title ? Do NOT put quotation marks around the paraphrase-this is no longer the word for word idea of the author
Infinitive phrase ? a group of words that uses an infinitive ( to + verb) ? They can be nouns, adjectives, or adverbs
Examples ? To smash a spider. ? To kick the ball past the goalie.
First, lets learn about participles... ? Participle definition: ? verb form that acts as an adjective ? Two types: Past and present ? Past: -ed ? Present: -ing ? Example: ? Cooked (past) ? Cooking (present)
Participle Phrases ? A participial phrase starts with a participle and includes other modifiers and direct objects
Examples: ? Cooking his own dinners for a year, Dave managed to save over $500. ? Played by millions, soccer is popular all around the world
