A colon can sharpen a thesis by isolating its key idea: “The novel has one true subject: guilt.” It can also introduce a question: “The question was simple: could the city survive another winter?”
Semicolons can build a tricolon of balanced clauses: “We came to learn; we stayed to teach; we left as friends.” This rhythm is powerful in speeches and conclusions.
Use these marks with purpose. One well-placed colon in an introduction can make your argument memorable.
Worked example
Revise with a colon: “The novel is about many things, but mostly it is about guilt.”
- Isolate the key idea, guilt.
- Put it after a complete clause and a colon.
Answer:The novel has one true subject: guilt.
Key words
- colon
- a mark that introduces or reveals
- semicolon
- a mark that balances related clauses
- tricolon
- three parallel parts
Practise this
New questions every time.
Common Core-referenced: L.11-12.2