Grammar Nazis, Assemble!

[Penguin]

Hey Grammar Nazis, I have a question for you guys about punctuation.  Under what circumstances do I use the semicolon, colon and dash?  It's been bugging me for a while.

-Penguin

[MaSonZ]

your english teacher did teach this? the grammar nazi of grammar nazis?  A semicolon is used to connect to dependent claus' (or is a depend to an independent?) when a Conjunction (For,And, Nor, But, Or Yet) wont sound right...i believe.

a colon is typically used before a list ex. "The boy carried three things in his bag: His Toothbrush, Books and a flashlight."

a dash is used as a "Detour" as my english teacher says. To add in some info that wouldnt otherwise be needed or wanted.


to the true grammar nazis..rip me apart on the Semi colon and dash. I cant explain it in writing, but i know how theyre used. odd, i know.

[Maverick]

While you may be fairly correct on the use of the semi colon and dash, your use or lack thereof, of the capital letters in your post is horrid.

 


 

[MaSonZ]

While you may be fairly correct on the use of the semi colon and dash, your use or lack thereof, of the capital letters in your post is horrid.

 


 

if im typing in general i dont use capitals. if im typing fer english i do. when im writing i miss use capitals...they're all over the place.

[Seraphim]

if im typing in general i dont use capitals. if im typing fer english i do. when im writing i miss use capitals...they're all over the place.

Misuse. Not miss use - it's one word.





 

[MaSonZ]

Misuse. Not miss use - it's one word.





 

why im failing english. i need that credit to walk. 

[fbWldcat]

You're not supposed to capitalize the first letter of the first word of a list after a colon. 

[fbWldcat]

I'd also recommend that you look into a book The Pen Commendments.

It is a great read and it helps you with basics as well as more in-depth grammar.

[MaSonZ]

You're not supposed to capitalize the first letter of the first word of a list after a colon. 

or any other words in a sentence unless its a proper noun.  

[fbWldcat]

or any other words in a sentence unless its a proper noun. 

I never stated anything to the contrary.

[MaSonZ]

looked back at my exmaple list and they were all over . no reasons to give young grashoppers back examples. yay or nay?

[MrRiplEy[H]]

OMG lolz u peepz cnt spell 2011 lingo

[MaSonZ]

OMG lolz u peepz cnt spell 2011 lingo

plz stp tlking like dis!

[fbWldcat]

The semi-colon is used to join together two independent clauses. (Independent Clauses are a complete thought and can "stand on their own" whereas a Dependent Clause cannot).
Timothy went to the store; Tim purchased bread and milk.

There, a sentence using a semi-colon. (Subject underlined, verbs italicized).

The use of a dash is for an abrupt change in the sentence in which the subject(s) may be highlighted.
Ex: Those three -Billy, Jane and Walter- went to the concert.

[fbWldcat]

The colon can be used in a number of ways: you can use it to start a list after an Independent Clause, insert a quote, use it to introduce a writing  piece of a letter (Ex: Dear Mr. President: ), use it to create a comparison (Example-  Thomas Edison: Lightbulb:: Wright Brothers: Flight [in which case, the colon could be thought of as a shortened way of saying "is to"]).