Semi-colons
Join 2 independent clauses while using a transitional word
Immersion trips are powerful experiences; hence, students often return with new global awareness.
Join 2 independent clauses
Immersion trips are powerful experiences; students often return with new global awareness.
Separate items in a list when those are long or have commas
Last year, students went on immersion trips to New Orleans, Louisiana; Puebla, Mexico; Yuba City, Arizona; and Mumbai, India.
Colons
Introduce a list after an independent clause
SCU's undergraduate Core is clustered within three areas: Foundations, Explorations, and Integrations.
Introduce a quote or example after an independent clause
SCU's motto highlights the University's location and mission: "The Jesuit university of the Silicon Valley."
Emphasize a point or example at the end of a sentence
Seniors often realize in spring that they have one requirement remaining before they can graduate: the Pathway Essay.
Join 2 independent clauses when the second emphasizes or explains the first
Writing is essential: it is the most important skill to practice.
Join together main and subordinate titles
Semi-colon or Colon: Which One and When?
