Colon and semicolon in a single sentence

Thank you. I believe that I understand what you're saying. I like your second suggestion and think that it reads well. I've been staring at this for so long, trying to figure out what the problem is and you come along and fix it with a simple switch of punctuation. Thanks again..

Another good structure:

"There were no friends or family members, so besides his physical symptoms he was admitted with only one certainty: his longstanding IV drug use (he had numerous track marks and was noticably malnourished)."

When listing in a sentence do I use a semi colon or a colon? Here is my example. For example, you can fill the basket with diapers, baby wipes, baby lotion baby powder, baby oil, NS BOTTLES/

I was hav always used a colon to do my listings. You can perhaps try something along this line.

"For example:you can fill the basket with diapers, baby wipes, baby lotion, baby powder, baby oil, NS Bottles/".

While a colon is used for lists, the example "stranger" gave is not quite correct. First of all, the colon should be at the beginning of the list itself, i.e., before "diapers", but a colon should not be used if the list starts with a preposition (like "with") or linking verb; thus, it should read: "For example, you can fill the basket with diapers, baby wipes, baby lotion, baby powder, baby oil, and NS Bottles."

If a colon were to be used, it would look something like this: "For example, you can fill the basket with the following: diapers, baby wipes, baby lotion, baby powder, baby oil, and NS Bottles."

P.S. - Note my use of a colons for other purposes: to introduce a quote and, in this very P.S., to introduce an example or explanation.

see http://www.writingcenter.emory.edu/colonsemi.html (courtesy of speedwell from another posting)

What a facinating blog. I've bookmarked it and added your feed to my RSS Reader

When there is no sentence, phrase or anything before the list, then obviously no punctuation is required.

Example:

You can fill the basket with diapers, baby wipes, baby lotion baby powder, baby oil, and NS bottles.

If there is a phrase or sentence fragment (weak clause) before the list, then use a comma.

Example:

Remember that, you can fill the basket with diapers, baby wipes, baby lotion baby powder, baby oil, and NS bottles.

If there is a sentence before the list, which is a complete sentence (strong clause), then use a semicolon after the sentence and before the list. The semicolon must have an introductory phrase (For example [e.g.], that is [i.e.], or for instance) after it and a comma must come after the introductory phrase.

Example:

You can fill the basket with Baby Products; for instance, diapers, baby wipes, baby lotion baby powder, baby oil, and NS bottles.

Use a colon when you do not want to use an introductory phrase; in this case, you would use a colon instead of the semicolon.

Example:

You can fill the basket with Baby Products: diapers, baby wipes, baby lotion baby powder, baby oil, and NS bottles.

Go to this website: www.grammarbook.com

That is how I learned grammar; you'll love it. =D

;D

I agree but can't you do the same thing with a semi-colon since it manifests objects?

Here's another sentence with both a colon and semicolon. In this example I was wondering if their use was correct.

He’d been waiting for a chance like this: to show he was capable of filling that management position; so he sent the meeting invitation as high priority to all upper managers.

@Intuit Flow - I think your colon is OK, but not the semicolon after the coordinating conjunction "so". But if you changed "so" to the conjunctive adverb "consequently" it should work:

He’d been waiting for a chance like this: to show he was capable of filling that management position; consequently, he sent the meeting invitation as high priority to all upper managers.

Would this sentence work wih a colon & a semicolon? (Please ignore the parenthetical citations)

Despite many years of complete massacre and annihilation of Jews and other religions, the United States didn’t intervene in the Holocaust until 1944- 11 years into the mass-killing, and 1 year before it officially ended (“United States Policy Toward”); a few of their reasoning’s behind not interfering sooner include: the US was in a time of economic depression, xenophobia & anti-Semitic feelings, and the US army’s aircraft didn’t have the capacity to bomb Auschwitz accurately (“United States Policy Toward”).

I think there are several (language) problems with this text, but to answer your question, I don't think the semicolon works here. Yes, you have two independent but related ideas: The US didn't intervene, and this was because ..., but each idea is quite long in itself, and you end up with a very long sentence.

Furthermore, you already have two contrasting ideas in the first section - "Despite many years of ..." and "the US didn't intervene". So your first idea is not so much about the US's non-intervention, but about the contrast. Your next part, about their reasoning, may be related to the non-intervention,but not really to this contrast. Personally, I feel that "officially ended" cries out for a natural break, and a full stop (period) would be much more appropriate here.

Now for the colon; its position is fine, but I'm concerned about what comes after it. I feel if you use "include" here we expect a list of things, i.e. noun phrases, but you have standard sentences. Secondly "reasoning" is uncountable, so no "s" at the end. I would suggest something like: "Their reasoning behind not interfering was based on several factors: the US was in a time of ... etc".

Have I used proper grammar and punctuation is this example?
My greatest passion in life is creativity; in combination with any of the following: art, food or wine, well then you have my attention!

@LLJ Well I really didn't understand your sentence on first reading so could I suggest:
"My greatest passion in life is creativity; put it together with art, food, or wine - well then you have my attention!"

Same question. But with this sentence.

Perhaps less common are the four “new” categories presented; the environmental di­mensions: visual, aural, olfactory, and tactile.

If incorrect, how to fix?

@hi Same issue - on first reading "the environmental dimensions" seems to be the first item in a list of four. How about:

Perhaps less common are the four “new” categories (or environmental dimensions) presented: visual, aural, olfactory, and tactile.

Are the people listed here, regarded as his true brothers? He missed his true brothers: Little Rickon bright eyes shining as he begged for a sweet; Robb, his rival and best friend and constant companion;Bran, stubborn curious, always wanting to follow and join in whateverRobb and Jon were doing

Can I use a colon, semi-colon and hyphen in a sentence?

In addition, and somewhat troublesome, two of the recent hires were lured away with better offers: higher salary; similar or better benefit packages; and the chance to work-at least in part-from home.