Grammar 101: insider tips and tricks to instantly improve your writing (part 4)

Hannah Lawrence
Hannah Lawrence
Reading time: 7 minutes

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. 

Grammar 101: semi-colons and colons
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Test your knowledge

Now you know about semi-colons, colons and commas, try these questions. 

Which sentence is correct?:

  1. I have three favorite flowers: lilies, daisies and fuschias. 
  2. I have three favorite flowers; lilies, daisies and fuschias. 
  3. I have three favorite flowers, lilies, daisies and fuschias. 

It's sentence 1. A colon introduces a list and commas separate the items. Note that it would also be fine to use the Oxford comma here – "lillies, daisies, and fuschias" – if that's your style preference. 

Now try these sentences:

  1. I need to clean the kitchen, bathroom and lounge: buy milk, eggs, and bread: and phone my friend.
  2. I need to clean the kitchen, bathroom and lounge, buy milk, eggs, and bread, and phone my friend.
  3. I need to clean the kitchen, bathroom and lounge; buy milk, eggs, and bread; and phone my friend.

The correct answer is 3. A semi-colon clarifies lists that would otherwise be a mess of commas. Again, it would be fine to use the Oxford comma here – "milk, eggs, and bread" – if that's your preference. 

A final cooking and punctuation challenge for you:

  1. The recipe has three main steps; chop the onions, celery and carrots; fry them in olive oil, and then simmer with stock, barley, and beans.
  2. The recipe has three main steps: chop the onions, celery and carrots; fry them in olive oil; and then simmer with stock, barley, and beans.
  3. The recipe has three main steps, chop the onions, celery, and carrots; fry them in olive oil, and then simmer; with stock, barley, and beans.

Here, the right answer is 2. Again, feel free to use the Oxford comma if you wish. 

Hopefully you now understand more about how colons, semi-colons and commas can add clarity, and you feel more confident in using them in your writing. 

Read the other posts in this series: "Grammar 101: part 1", "Grammar 101: part 2" and "Grammar 101: part 3".

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