(—)

An em dash (—) is a versatile punctuation mark that can be used in place of a comma, colon, or semicolon—basically anything that indicates a pause. Yet, it is more sudden than a comma, more compelling than a semi colon, and doesn’t announce like a colon.

To Indicate a Break in Thought

"I was going to the store—until I realized I forgot my wallet."

"He was sure he’d seen Sasuke somewhere before—or was it someone else entirely?"

To Create Emphasis

"She was determined to find the easter egg—no matter what weather."

"She knew exactly what he wanted—peace and quiet."

To Highlight Dramatic Concluding Statements

"I walked through water, sweet plants, burnt sugar—a freshness wholly unknown."

"He opened the door slowly and looked around the room—a cold silence creeping across the floor.”

To Indicate a Connection

"She’s a well-known author—a bestseller in her genre."

"The pizza and soda was delicious—the chef had outdone himself this time."

( , )

Commas are essential for structuring sentences and creating flow. Without commas, sentences can become confusing or misleading, leading to misinterpretation. They are the second most used punctuation behind periods!

Separating Items in a Series

"I bought apples, oranges, bananas, and grapes."

(Note: The comma before "and" is called the Oxford comma and is optional based on preference.)

Before Coordinating Conjunctions Joining Independent Clauses

"I wanted to go for a walk in the park, but it started to rain."

Benson was angry at the two for playing stick hockey, for he had lost much to the game.

After Introductory Elements

"After the fantastic dinner, we went for a walk down to the river."

"However, while we were walking I got a tummy ache."

Setting Apart Non Essential Information

This paper, which was written before you were born, is all about making yogurt.

My car, which I bought last year, has never given me any problems."

( : )

Colons introduce or emphasize information in a sentence. They signal that what follows will elaborate on, clarify, or list the information mentioned before the colon.

To Introduce a List

"You will need the following ingredients: flour, sugar, eggs, and butter."

"The menu offers several dessert options: cheesecake, chocolate mousse, tiramisu, and ice cream."

In Titles and Subtitles

"The Great Gatsby: A Novel of the Jazz Age."

“Between The Berry: A Comparative Study of Jam and Jelly”

Emphasizing a point or conclusion:

"The decision was clear: he was going to take the job."

"She finally found what she had been looking for: true happiness."

Indicating ratios or time:

"The ratio of students to teachers is 25:1."

"The train departs at 7:45."

( ; )

Semicolons are used to connect closely related ideas in a sentence. Much like the em dash, semicolons signal a pause stronger than a comma but not as final as a period. Here are the main uses:

Linking Independent Clauses With a Conjunction:

"She was tired; however, she decided to finish the work."

"She wandered the empty house; nevertheless, every room seemed to hum with yesterday’s laughter."

Linking Independent Clauses Without a Conjunction:

"She loves reading; he prefers watching movies."

"The streetlights flickered to life; shadows stretched and shifted, running to the corners of the city."