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Semicolons vs. Colons vs. Dashes

Lindsay Kramer
Updated on June 27, 2023
GRAMMAR

​Ah, the old debate: semicolon vs. colon vs. dash. Which punctuation is the right
one for the sentence you’re writing? How do you know? Is it a clear-cut choice
where one is correct and the others are wrong, or is it more of a stylistic decision,
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like using the Oxford comma?

The confusion surrounding semicolon versus colon versus dash is

understandable, but once you’ve learned the basics, the answer is usually clear.
There’s rarely a situation where either a semicolon or a colon can be correct; it’s
typically one or the other. The same goes for dashes—unless you’re purposely
breaking punctuation rules for a stylistic reason (like writing poetry, writing a
character’s unique dialogue, or breaking convention to grab readers’ attention),
there are right ways and wrong ways to use a dash.

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Not sure when to use a dash or whether a colon or semicolon is the way to go? No
worries—we break it down and make it easy-peasy.

Colon vs. semicolon: What’s the difference?

The two punctuation marks colon (:) and semicolon (;) may look similar, but they
have different uses:

A colon (:) is used to introduce information set up by the previous clause. It’s
typically used before a list, example, or explanation.
 A semicolon (;) is used to join related independent clauses together in the
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same sentence without a conjunction.

Now let’s discuss the details on when and how to use each and where the dash (
— ) fits in.

When do I use a colon?

A colon looks like this: :

In a sentence, a colon’s job is to introduce information and give it context. Think of

it as shorthand for “which is/are,” “as follows,” or “thus.”

For example: “There are three kinds of soda on the menu: ginger ale, Pepsi, and Dr.
Pepper.” This can also be written as “There are three kinds of soda on the menu
and they are, as follows, ginger ale, Pepsi, and Dr. Pepper.”

A colon can also separate a sentence into two independent clauses when the two
clauses are directly related and you mean to emphasize the second clause. Take a
look at the colon in action here:

The roads are icy: It’s dangerous to drive today.

Separating a sentence into two independent clauses is one of the rare instances
where either a colon or a semicolon would be correct. While a semicolon can
gently separate two independent clauses, a colon does so more concretely.
Compare this sentence to the one above:

The roads are icy; it’s dangerous to drive today.

See how the version with the semicolon feels more conversational, while the one
with the colon feels more direct? You might have also noticed that in the first
example, the clause after the colon starts with a capital letter. We explain why in
the next section.
First, here’s an easy trick to see if you’re using a colon or semicolon correctly to
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separate clauses: Replace it with a period. An independent clause is a clause that
can be its own sentence, so when you’ve got two independent clauses separated
by a colon, you’ve essentially got two sentences. Consider this variation on our
example: The roads are icy. It’s dangerous to drive.

Capitalization after colons

Whether you should capitalize the word following a colon depends on whether
you’re writing in American English or British English. In American English, the first
word after a colon is capitalized when it begins a new sentence and when it’s a
proper noun or acronym. In British English, the first word after a colon is only
capitalized when it’s a proper noun or acronym.

When do I use a semicolon?

A semicolon looks like this: ;

As we mentioned above, a semicolon joins two independent clauses together to

create a detailed sentence. Take a look at this example:

My favorite meal is rigatoni with bolognese sauce and crusty bread; these foods
remind me of my grandmother’s cooking.

You’ve got two distinct sentences there, but when they’re joined by a semicolon,
they paint a fuller picture than they would if kept separate. The semicolon
communicates a deeper relationship. Think of it as shorthand for a conjunction.
Another way to write our example sentence is: My favorite meal is rigatoni with
bolognese sauce and crusty bread because these foods remind me of my
grandmother’s cooking.
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When do I use a dash?

Remember: A single hyphen is not a dash. A single hyphen is a separate

punctuation mark that serves a completely different purpose: to join two words to
create a compound word, for example.

There are three different dashes you can use in your writing:

Em dash: —

En dash: –

Double hyphen: ⸗

The em dash (—) is a super versatile punctuation mark. Here are all the different
ways you can use one:

Interject or abruptly change the subject

Offset an appositive that contains commas

Offset parenthetical information

Replace a colon for emphasis

 Connect a list and another clause in the same sentence when the list comes
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first

Communicate that a word or part of a word is missing, either because it’s

been purposefully omitted or is unknown. When using an em dash in this way,
two or three em dashes are typically used for each missing word or portion of
a word.

We’ll show you examples of each of these uses in a moment. First, we’ll explain
the en dash.

The en dash (–) is slightly shorter than the em dash, but still longer than a single
hyphen. Unlike the versatile em dash, the en dash has just three jobs:

Replace the word to in ranges and scores

Create complex compound adjectives

Represent conflict or connection between two nouns

Compound adjectives are two-word adjectives, and when the two words in a
compound adjective aren’t hyphenated, like light gray, or when both words are
hyphenated, like in record-breaking two-week period, an en dash between the
adjective and the noun it’s describing makes the sentence clear.

For example:

I’ve recently started dabbling in dark academia–style fashion.

And you’d use a double hyphen (⸗) when you use a hyphenated word at the end of a
line of text and the second half of the word is split off and starts the next line.
Generally, non-hyphenated words are given hyphens in this situation to show the
reader that the word continues on the next line. When the word already has a
hyphen, a second one is added to show it’s both hyphenated and split across two
lines—and that second hyphen creates the double hyphen.
Do IReal-time
use a colon or a semicolon before GET
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A colon. But, colons aren’t for every list.

A colon is only necessary (and correct) when the list follows a complete
independent clause.

Here’s an example:

I have many different art supplies in my basement: clay, acrylic paints,

watercolors, colored pencils, and five kinds of paper.

“I have a lot of different art supplies in my basement” can be a sentence on its

own, but the list that follows it can’t. In the example sentence above, the list of
supplies adds detail to the statement about having art supplies in the basement
but doesn’t change its meaning.

When a list doesn’t follow a complete independent clause, a colon is unnecessary

and incorrect. Here are a few examples of lists that shouldn’t be preceded by
colons:

When I went to the art supply store, I bought colored pencils, a new
sketchpad, and some charcoal.

To complete the course, you need to watch all the lectures, pass both quizzes,
and write a final essay.

When a semicolon is part of a list, it’s between items in the list, rather than at the
beginning. You’d use a semicolon in a list to clearly separate items, especially if
the items already contain commas.

For example: When I traveled through Asia last year, I stopped in Tokyo, Japan;
Osaka, Japan; Seoul, South Korea; and Bangkok, Thailand.

Colons, semicolons, and dashes in action

Take a look at these examples to see how colons, semicolons, and different kinds
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of dashes work in sentences:

Colon

To make a Shirley Temple, you need three ingredients: ginger ale, grenadine, and a
maraschino cherry.

It was a beautiful day: The sun was shining and the flowers were in full bloom.

Semicolon

The semifinalists included Bob from Chicago, Illinois; Jessica from New York, New
York; Karen from Seattle, Washington; and David from Camden, New Jersey.

My cats love to harass my dog; they spent all afternoon chasing him through the
house.

Em dash

I drank my coffee—as I do every day—on the porch.

Please call my sister—Amy, not Rebecca—to find out the best time to stop by.

HP, Dell, Apple—we sell every kind of computer here.

Hey—oh wait, never mind.

The suspect is believed to be a minor named — — —, who lives in the same

building as the victim.

En dash

I have to work from 10 a.m.–6 p.m. today.

She’s a brand-new Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist.

 Our San Diego–San Francisco road trip will take about eight hours if we don’t
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make any stops.

Double hyphen

At the museum, I had the opportunity to see a well⸗preserved specimen of a

beetle in amber.

Always double-check your punctuation

Getting your punctuation right every single time can be tough. Grammarly can
help you avoid making mistakes and express yourself clearly and confidently, no
matter what you’re writing.

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