Sentence structure & punctuation · Topic 15 of 17

Semicolons, Colons & Other Punctuation

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Grammar · semicolons, colons, dashes

Semicolons, Colons & Other Punctuation

A semicolon joins two complete sentences; a colon follows a complete sentence to introduce a list or explanation. Hyphens join words; dashes interrupt.

01 · SemicolonSemicolon: a full sentence on both sides

02 · ColonColon: complete sentence, then list

03 · HyphenHyphen joins a compound adjective

The rules

Semicolon joins two complete, related sentences: The shift ended; we left must know

Colon after a complete sentence introduces a list: Bring two things: a pen and ID must know

Semicolon before a transition word, comma after: It rained; however, we went

Semicolons separate series items that contain commas: Erie, PA; Troy, NY; and Lima, OH

No capital after a semicolon or to start a colon list — ✗ The lab closed; Everyone left

Hyphenate a compound adjective before the noun: a well-known author · he is well known

Dash (—) = interruption, emphasis or sudden shift: The test—all four hours—was hard

Parentheses ( ) hold a less important aside: The clinic (open since 2019) is busy

Ellipsis (…) = words left out of a quote, or a trailing pause: "I … can't decide."

Don't confuse

Hyphen (-) joins words; dash (—) separates ideas — not interchangeable

Semicolon or colon?

Commonly confused

	Semicolon ;	Colon :
Before the mark	A complete sentence	A complete sentence
After the mark	Another complete sentence	A list, an explanation or a quotation
Job	Links two closely related, equal ideas	Announces what comes next
Also used	Between series items that already contain commas	Title: subtitle; business letter greeting
Example	The shift ended; the next team arrived.	Pack three things: gloves, a mask, and a pen.

Common mistakes

No semicolon after a dependent clause — ✗ Because the bus was late; we walked

No colon right after a verb or preposition — ✗ Bring: gloves and a pen

A semicolon never introduces a list — ✗ Pack the basics; gloves and masks

No hyphen after very or an -ly adverb — ✗ a newly-built clinic

More detail

Show 6 more facts

Hyphenate twenty-one to ninety-nine and spelled-out fractions: forty-six · two-thirds

Period inside ( ) only for a whole sentence; comma after the ( ), not before

Age before a noun takes two hyphens: a three-year-old patient · three years old

Hyphen after self-, ex-, all- and before a proper noun: self-care · mid-March

Colon between a title and subtitle and after a formal letter greeting: Dear Dr. Ruiz:

En dash (–) marks number ranges: 2019–2024 · pages 10–15

Pearl

Semicolon: a full sentence on both sides. Colon: a full sentence before it, then whatever it introduces.

Sources · GrammarBook.com — Semicolons · GrammarBook.com — Colons · OpenStax Writing Guide with Handbook — Handbook (H9 Punctuation: semicolons, colons, dashes and parentheses; H11 ellipses) · GrammarBook.com — Hyphens · GrammarBook.com — Dashes · GrammarBook.com — Parentheses and Brackets · GrammarBook.com — Ellipses · Union Test Prep — HESI A2 Grammar study guide: sentence types (compound sentences with a semicolon) · TSTC Library — HESI A2 guide (Grammar: ellipses, commas, semicolons, colons, hyphens, parentheses) · Built from the verified NurseSavvy HESI A2 fact map (facts reviewed 2026-10-16). HESI is a trademark of Elsevier; NurseSavvy is not affiliated with Elsevier.

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