Use of Colons and Semicolons

Question

I'm doing an assignment and I just want to be sure on my use of colons & semicolons. Is it a colon used before a list, and a semiclon before elaborating - like here? If I were to eliminate the dash in the last sentence, I'm fairly sure I would use a semicolon, but I'm not certain.

Answer 1

I don't think a semicolon would be appropriate after the word elaborating, because the main function of a semicolon is to connect two sentences, much like a period does.

For example, if you were to say:

I am going to the store.  I have to buy milk.  

you could combine the two sentences with a semicolon:

I am going to the store; I have to buy milk.

Semicolons are almost exclusively used for this purpose.  Occasionally they appear in more complex sentences, connecting an independent clause with another one that starts with 'however' or 'therefore'.

You're right though, colons can be used to set off a list, or to elaborate as I did above (for example:  ).  

I hoped this helped; if you need more information however, here is a really good site that talks about all sorts of punctuation.

http://grammar.about.com/od/punctuationa...

Answer 2

a colon says "for example", so you would use it before a list.

a semi-colon says "and", "because", "but". It is used when the sentence becomes very complex but the writer feels that it is still homogeneous.

The non-parenthetic appositive units of a sentence are separated by a colon. That is where your list comes in. The independent units, items on the list, and clauses are separated by semicolons.

Have a look at the opening of "Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens. This is a tour de force in the use of the semicolon.

The example that you quote would not use a semicolon, which acts as a kind of full stop. The dash that you use would be acceptable since the phrase is a kind of parenthetical remark and the dash is one mark by which we separate parentheses.