The Difference Between Semicolons and Colons
A semicolon links two closely related sentences; a colon introduces what comes next. Learn when to use each, with clear examples and a quick quiz.
- Intermediate
- 2 min read
- 5-question quiz
Published
Semicolons and colons look like cousins, and both sit somewhere between a comma and a full stop. But they do different jobs. A semicolon joins things of equal weight. A colon points forward to something that explains or expands what came before.
The semicolon: a soft full stop
Use a semicolon between two independent clauses that are closely linked in meaning:
Some players love long words; others prefer to dump tiles for points.
Both halves could be sentences on their own. The semicolon tells the reader they belong together. It's also one of the four ways to fix a comma splice, as explained in our comma lesson.
With conjunctive adverbs
Words such as however, therefore, meanwhile, otherwise and consequently are not conjunctions, so they can't join two sentences with a comma. Use a semicolon before them and a comma after:
The Q is worth ten points; however, it's hard to play without a U.
In complicated lists
When list items contain commas of their own, semicolons keep the items apart:
The finalists came from Lagos, Nigeria; Toronto, Canada; and Perth, Australia.
The colon: here comes the payoff
A colon says "what follows explains, lists or illustrates what I just said". The part before the colon must be a complete sentence.
Introducing a list
Bring three things: a pencil, a timer and a dictionary.
Don't use a colon straight after a verb or preposition that the list depends on:
The kit includes: a pencil, a timer and a dictionary. → The kit includes a pencil, a timer and a dictionary.
Introducing an explanation or result
There was only one problem: nobody had brought the tiles.
Before a quotation or example
The rule is simple: play the highest-scoring word you can.
Other conventional uses
- Times: 7:30 p.m.
- Ratios: a 3:1 ratio
- Titles and subtitles: Word Power: A Guide for Puzzle Lovers
- Business-letter greetings in American English: Dear Ms. Patel:
Capital letter after a colon?
In American style, capitalise after a colon if what follows is a complete sentence (many guides) or only if it's two or more sentences (others). British style normally keeps a lower-case letter unless the next word is a proper noun. Whichever you choose, apply it consistently.
Quick comparison
| Semicolon ; | Colon : | |
|---|---|---|
| Joins | two equal, complete sentences | a complete sentence + whatever it introduces |
| Typical meaning | "and also", "whereas" | "namely", "that is", "as follows" |
| In lists | separates items that contain commas | introduces the list |
| Followed by capital? | no (unless a proper noun) | depends on style guide |
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