Punctuation marks
are symbols that are used in a sentence to make it comprehensible. In other
words, the comprehensibility of a sentence is wholly dependent on the correct
use of punctuation marks. They are also signals which help to show how written
words are intended to be spoken.
Punctuation
marks are very powerful in all languages, especially the English language. If
wrongly used, they are capable of altering the spoken pattern of a written
discourse and the intended meaning of a speaker. Unfortunately, most language
users seem not to be concerned about this sheer fact as they mostly present
their writings without punctuation marks or with the wrong punctuation marks.
In case you don't know, the absence of or wrong use of a punctuation mark in a
sentence has some hilariously grave consequences:
1. It can cost
a speaker his mom's life. For example, if a speaker fails to add a comma after
"eat" in the sentence, "Let's eat mom", it simply
means that he has killed his mom and prepared her for breakfast, lunch or
dinner. This is what the absence of a punctuation mark in a sentence can cause.
To avoid such interpretation, the sentence should be written as "Let's
eat, mom." This sentence, unlike the former which is devoid of the
comma, requests the speaker's mom to join him in the meal.
2. It can make
you love a woman's monthly flow (menses). If you write or say "I love
her period." instead of "I love her. Period!", you
have only succeeded in telling your audience or listener that you love her
menses. This may not be the actual meaning of your statement, but your
inability to use the full stop in your statement projects such meaning.
3. It can
cause the unexpected.
Examples
i. Give me my pen's cover.
ii. Give me my *pen!s cover.
Can you see
what the wrong use of a punctuation mark, precisely the exclamation mark (!),
almost caused in example two? I will let you ponder on that, but don't take too
much time. Lol!
There are two
basic types of punctuation marks:
a. The terminal punctuation marks
b. The internal punctuation marks
The terminal
marks (which include: the full stop, question mark and exclamation
mark) are used at the end of sentences. These are the strongest punctuation
marks and are used primarily to indicate the end of a sentence.
On the other
hand, the internal punctuation marks are used within sentences. They include:
comma (,), semicolon (;), colon (:), parenthesis (), apostrophe ('), dash (–), caret (ʌ),
quotation mark/inverted comma (" ") or (' '), hyphen (-) and
suspension point (...).
Each of these
punctuation marks is used to achieve different communicative purposes when
using the English language. But this article only discusses the uses of the
semicolon and its cousin, the colon.
SEMICOLON
Semicolon is one of the trickiest signs to use for writers, which is why you
will find its usage the least. However, if properly used, it can be one of
the most useful and significant punctuation marks.
The semicolon
( ; ) is basically a punctuation mark that indicates a
more pronounced pause than that indicated by a comma but less important than
that of a full stop. In other words, it is a longer pause than the comma but a
shorter pause than the full stop.
USES OF THE
SEMICOLON (;)
1. To separate
main clauses which are are closely related and not joined with conjunction.
Example:
Writing is an acquired skill; it has to be learned.
"Writing
is an acquired skill" and "It has to be learned" are two main
clauses. A main or an independent clause is a simple sentence that can stand
independently and still make a complete sense. It does not need another clause
to be meaningful.
2. It is used
between two independent clauses that are connected by conjunctive adverbs or
transitional phrases (however, so, consequently, namely, therefore, as a result
etc.).
Example
i. I love the English Language; however, I hate its complexities.
ii.
Traditional values still have a place in our society; therefore, they will
never lose relevance.
3. You can use
a semicolon before a coordinating conjunction to separate items in a
list where one or more of the items contain(s) commas or other punctuation(s).
Example:
This article discusses punctuation under three broad headings: the meaning
of punctuation, which reviews the concept of punctuation (by different
scholars); how it is used; its implications; and how it can be
applied.
4. A semicolon
is used to separate the series of loosely related clauses.
Examples:
i. Her court was pure; her life serene.
ii. God
gave her peace; her land reposed.
COLON
Unlike the semicolon, the colon (:) is a punctuation mark that is used to
precede a list of items, a quotation or an expansion or explanation. While a
semicolon links two independent statements, this punctuation mark flows conveniently
from the first statement to the second. Usually, it links a general or
introductory statement to an example, or a cause to an effect or a premise with
a conclusion. This shall come to fore as we illustrate some of its uses.
USES OF
COLON (:)
1. The most common use of the colon is to indicate to the reader that a list of
items follows. In this case, it is used before listing the items.
Example:
All corps members were told to bring the following items for the orientation
course: a torch, a waist bag, two sets of night clothes, a pair of white
snickers, underwear etc.
2. It is used
sometimes to indicate more emphasis in indirect speech.
Example:
The little girl screamed: “Help! Help! I'm dying!"
3. It is used
to divide the title of a book from the subtitle.
Example:
Stylistics: Theory and Practice
4. It is used
to make a difference between the hours and minutes when writing the time.
Example:
The time is: 04:00 PM
5. It is used
in differentiating the chapter and verse in the Bible.
Example:
Genesis 1: 3
6. It is used
to introduce a quotation.
Example
Tammy says: “The patient dog no longer eats the fattest bone."
7. It is used
between sentences that are grammatically independent but closely connected in
sense.
Example:
Study to acquire the habit of thinking: No study is more important.
In sum, since
punctuation marks are capable of altering the actual meanings of sentences, it
is very important for language users to use them correctly and when necessary.
This will also make their writings sophisticated.
