<p>would someone PLEASE explain ; and : to me in the context of the writing section? I'm a strong verbal test taker (generally 700-780 on the writing section) but I really don't get when each of these is appropriate. examples would be EXTRA helpful and EXTRA appreciated.</p>
<p>; joins two complete clauses that are more closely related than two separate sentences.
: is used when the material that follows : amplifies or exemplifies the previous statement. Thus : is used before a list, but it can also be used if the following statement provides an instantiation of the preceding clause.</p>
<p>Examples:</p>
<p>I love strawberries; I could eat them everyday.</p>
<p>John had a difficult time choosing his favorite sport; baseball, football, and wrestling all meant a lot to him.</p>
<p>Some students travel by plane; others travel via bus and car.</p>
<p>(Also, you use a semi-colon as you would a comma in a list only when the individual items in a list contain commas.)</p>
<p>My best friend has lived in Berlin, Germany; London, England; Paris, France; and Budapest, Hungary.</p>
<p>Some clubs you could join are archery, even if you are a beginner; swim team; political organizations, which include a variety besides the obvious Democrats or Republicans; theatre; gaming; and debate.</p>
<p>Here are your choices: get a job or go to college.</p>
<p>What you need to do tomorrow: study for test, take cat to vet, and get bread and milk at the grocery store.</p>
<p>Here’s what you have to consider: Are you attending that college because you want to go, or are you going because of parental expectations?</p>