1. Hyphens, Colons, and Semicolons

2. That’s right!
We haven’t finished
with punctuation…

3. - Hyphens -
We use hyphens with some compound words:
• Compound numerals
twenty-one forty-nine eighty-six
• Numeral and adjective compounds preceding nouns
four-year-old boy ten-foot alligator
• Often with “ex,” and “self”
ex-wife ex-president self-educated self-esteem
• Compounds containing prefixes and proper adjectives
mid-September anti-American
• Usually when two vowels would be put together
co-author de-emphasize ultra-ambitious

4. - Hyphens -
We use hyphens with some compound words:
• Compound adjectives that precede nouns
up-to-date information well-known actress
friendly-looking doctors much-needed change
Examples:
This website provides up-to-date information.
Angelina Jolie is a well-known actress.
I went to the hospital and saw friendly-looking doctors.
**BUT**
The information on this website is up to date.
That actress is well known.
The doctors at the hospital looked friendly.

5. - Hyphens -
We use hyphens with some compound words:
• Compound adjectives that precede nouns
up-to-date information well-known actress
friendly-looking doctors much-needed change
These compound adjectives function together as one
idea.
We wouldn’t say, “They are friendly and looking doctors.”
That doesn’t make sense. Therefore: friendly-looking
We don’t say “She’s a friendly-sweet girl.”
“Friendly-sweet” doesn’t work as one idea.
We can say, “She’s a friendly and sweet girl.”
Therefore: “She’s a friendly, sweet girl.”

6. : Colons :
• We use colons to separate the hour and minute.
9:25 a.m. 11:53 p.m. 1:00 p.m. 6:30 a.m.
• We also use colons near the end of a sentence when what
follows is a list.
They visited three countries on their vacation in Europe: Spain,
Italy, and Croatia.
• Colons are placed after salutations in business letters.
Dear Mr. Grant: Dear Sir or Madam:
To whom it may concern:

7. ; Semicolons ;
Call back tomorrow. He will give you an answer.
Do you remember how we can combine two
complete sentences?
• We can use a comma and conjunction:
Call back tomorrow, and he will give you an
answer.
• We can also use a semicolon
Call back tomorrow; he will give you an answer.
(no conjunction)

8. ; Semicolons ;
We also use a semicolon before certain words when
they start a second independent clause.
These word include:
however therefore for example nevertheless
nonetheless moreover for instance
He isn’t available at the moment; however, you
can leave him a message.
I didn’t study; therefore, I don’t think I will do
very well on the exam.

9. ; Semicolons ;
Finally, we use a semicolon to separate items in a
series when a comma won’t work.
Comma: The people at the conference are from
Idaho, Arizona, Virginia, and Hawaii.
Semicolon: The people at the conference are from
Boise, Idaho; Phoenix, Arizona;
Richmond, Virginia; and Honolulu, Hawaii.

10. , Comma vs. Semicolon ;
It was a beautiful day, and It was a beautiful day; the
the sun was shining. sun was shining.
He isn’t here. I He isn’t here; however, I
will, however, tell him you will tell him you called.
called.
Her sons were born in Her sons were born on
May, October, and May 12, 1999; October
December. 6, 2002; and December
16, 2005.