A colon is that punctuation mark which is used for three grammatical purposes.

Those three purposes are:

1. To introduce a list
2. To explain the first clause
3. To use before a quotation

1. Colon Is Used To Introduce a List

You can use a it to introduce a list. For example,

• I think you have three things in your pocket: a pen, a small diary, and a mobile phone.

• Please bring five things from market: vegetables, fruits, yogurt, milk, bread, and eggs.

You see in the above examples that colons are used after the independent clauses. For instance, in the first example, ‘… a pen, a small diary, and a mobile phone’ is a dependent clause. You should be careful in using it. Always place a colon after the clause. This is the rule!

2. To Explain the First Clause

One of the three grammatical uses is that it is used in between the two main clauses. In this way, the second clause explains the first clause. By using this, a writer can explain his thought intensely. For example,

• I know I am done with my work: just to live an exciting life.

• Hundreds days in Switzerland: unforgettable time of my life.

3. Colon Is Used Before a Quotation

A colon is also used before a quotation or a direct speech. For example,

• She said: “Arrive early if you really want a big slice of the chocolate cake.”

• The boss ordered: “I want all the files ready just after two hours.”

Other Uses

Apart from the grammatical uses of a colon, there are also a few non-grammatical uses of a colon. For instance, in ratios, titles, time, references, etc. Let me briefly explain few of them.

1. The colon is used in writing time, for instance, to separate minutes from hours.

9:30 p.m.
11:00 a.m.

2. The colon is used in stating references like biblical references. It is used to separate chapters from verses.

• Genesis 1:27
• Genesis 1:26

3. The colons are used in stating the ratios as well.

1:2
4:3

4. You can find out colons used in formal letters as well.

• Respected Ma’am Madonna:
• To whom it may concern:

Note: Don’t use semicolon after a salutation.

5. Separation of titles and subtitles can be done by using a colon.

• Aphorism: The Girl that is a Beauty
• Intraseasonal Variability: Processes, Predictability and Prospects for Prediction

Remember a Few Rules

Only capitalize the first word after a colon when the first word is a proper noun or there is an independent clause. For example,

• I have only two best friends: Amelia and Leo.

• Forget everything: Be happy!

Sometimes, writers do use a colon before a list and just after a preposition or a verb or the words like including. This is not grammatically correct. You should avoid using a colon in this case. For example,

• The dress that I want should be: pretty, cool, and cheap. (Incorrect)

• There are many good things in this shop such as: laptops, video games, mobile phones, digital cameras, etc. (Incorrect)

In the first example, there is no need to place it. The sentence will be grammatically correct without any punctuation mark. The same case is with the second example.

Check Out: What Is a Comma Splice?

What Did You Learn?

A colon is a punctuation mark that has mainly three grammatical uses and a few non-grammatical uses as well. It is used after an independent clause to introduce a list, to explain, or to use before a quotation.

In simple words, when you join two independent clauses with only a comma then, it can be turned into a comma splice.

It is very important for the writers to completely avoid grammatical errors. One of the grammatical errors is a comma splice, which has to be carefully observed and corrected in order to make an efficient publication.

For example,

1. My sisters will go to the palace in the morning, they should come back by 9:30 p.m. (Incorrect)

The above example sentence is a perfect example of a comma splice. The two sentences are independent sentences that are joined with a comma. This is absolutely incorrect. One cannot join these two independent sentences with only a comma.

How to Fix a Comma Splice?

Do not get worried!

You can easily fix a comma splice by following each of the below strategies.

1. You can simply add a semicolon, which is a punctuation mark. For example,
• My sisters will go to the palace in the morning; they should come back by 9:30 p.m. (Correct)

Check Out: What Is a Colon?

2. You can add a conjunction with a comma to make it an error-free sentence. For example,
• My sisters will go to the palace in the morning; and they should come back by 9:30 p.m. (Correct)

3. In the same way, you can also split this sentence into two separate sentences to make it grammatically correct. For instance,
• My sisters will go to the palace in the morning. They should come back by 9:30 p.m. (Correct)

Comma Splice vs. Run-On Sentence: What’s the Difference?

While both comma splices and run-on sentences involve incorrectly joining independent clauses, they are not the same thing. The key difference lies in how the two clauses are connected.

Comma Splice

A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are joined together with just a comma, which is grammatically incorrect because the comma isn’t strong enough to separate two complete thoughts.

• Incorrect: I love to travel, I will visit Italy next summer.

In this sentence, both parts before and after the comma can stand alone as separate sentences, making the comma splice incorrect. To fix it, you can use a semicolon, a conjunction, or split the sentence into two.

Corrected Versions:

• I love to travel; I will visit Italy next summer.
• I love to travel, and I will visit Italy next summer.

Run-On Sentence

A run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses are joined together with no punctuation or coordinating conjunction at all. It’s essentially a string of sentences that run together without proper separation, making it confusing to read.

• Incorrect: I love to travel I will visit Italy next summer.

In this case, there’s no punctuation or conjunction between the two independent clauses, which makes it a run-on sentence. Like a comma splice, it can be fixed by adding punctuation or a conjunction.

Corrected Versions:

• I love to travel; I will visit Italy next summer.
• I love to travel, and I will visit Italy next summer.

Quiz

Now, to test yourself, identify those sentences that contain a comma splice.

1. Before I start the lecture, I want to introduce myself.

2. I needed to go to the market, I went out early in the morning.

3. The students have prepared their projects, they are really fast in work.

4. I am not happy about his work, so I am going to reject his entire project.

5. Whenever you will apologize, I will definitely work with you.

6. My sister loves to make handmade jewellery, she just tried a new design.

In the above sentences, you can see comma splices in 2, 3, and 6.

Apart from 2, 3, and 6, the rest of the sentences are grammatically correct sentences. In 1 and 5, you can see subordinate clauses. On the other hand, in 4, there is a conjunction ‘so’ used to link the two clauses.

What Did You Learn?

So, a comma splice should be fixed up in order to make writing grammatically correct and organized. A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses joined together with a comma, which is completely incorrect.

Anaphora is that rhetorical and literary device in which there is a repetition of a word or a phrase in successive sentences or clauses.

For example,

I can’t catch a crocodile,
I can’t climb a cliff.
I can’t cook a cake…

In the above example, there is a repetition of the phrase ‘I can’t’, which is an example of anaphora.

Why Writers or Speakers use Anaphora?

People make use of this device in order to give emphasis on words or phrases. It is one of the most effective tools in literature that is often used by the writers. Professional writers know how to use anaphora in an effective manner. It is, in fact, the best choice to make a speech or a writing a significant one. It gives weight on a particular word or phrases.

Mostly, you can come across with anaphora in speeches. In speeches, a speaker repeats certain words or phrases to make a speech more effective and memorable. For instance, you can find out such examples of anaphora in the speeches of Martin Luther King.

Now is the time to make real promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s children.

The following example paragraph is taken from Martin Luther King’s famous address ‘I Have a Dream’, which was delivered at ‘The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.’ You can see how the speaker has repeated the phrase ‘Now is the time…’ to make his address more effective and emphatic.

Apart from the speeches, writers use this rhetorical device more commonly in poetry than prose. In poetry, it helps to create rhythm and gives emphasis on a particular word or phrases.

For example,

And I saw it was filled with graves,
And tomb-stones where flowers should be:
And Priests in black gowns, were walking their rounds,
And binding with briars, my joys & desires.

The above stanza is taken from a poem ‘The Garden of Love’ written by William Blake. You can see that the poet has used anaphora in this particular stanza. The repetition of ‘And’ creates a rhythm.

A few more examples of Anaphora

• We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air,…. (Winston Churchill)

• It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief… (Charles Dickens)

• Doubt thou the stars are fire, Doubt that the sun doth move, Doubt truth to be a liar, but never doubt I love. (Shakespeare)

What Did You Learn?

Anaphora is a rhetorical and a literary device in which you can find out a repetition of a word or phrase in successive sentences. It is used by the speakers or writers in order to give emphasis on a particular word or phrase. In poetry, it is mostly used to create rhythm.

Adjectives are the words that are used to describe or modify nouns or pronouns. An adjective can specify your writing by giving more information and more meaning to nouns or pronouns. Compound adjectives are, actually, adjectives that are used to modify nouns.

Compound means consisting of two or more separate parts. It means that a compound adjective, as the name implies, consist of two or more than two words. These separate words make up a compound adjective to modify nouns.

The following list has a few examples of compound adjectives.

• Well-known author
• Part-time job
• Under-developed town
• Two-year-old child
• One-letter apart
• Cold-blooded animals
• Well-behaved student
• Close-ended questions
• 4-metre-long rope
• Absent-minded person

Rules to form Compound Adjectives

1. Use Hyphens:

As you can see in the above examples, hyphens are used to link the words to make up a compound adjective. For example,

• At the end of the session, the instructor will ask a few close-ended questions from each one of us.
• Accent and ascent are just one-letter apart.
• I can see an absent-minded person in my classroom.

2. Do not use hyphens:

You do not need to use hyphens when there are proper nouns that are used to form up a compound adjective. For example,

• I so wanted to download 8 Ball Pool game but didn’t get time.

In the above example, 8 Ball Pool is a compound adjective which is made up of a proper noun. This is the reason for not using hyphens to link these words together. This compound adjective ‘8 Ball Pool’ is describing the game.

Note: You do not need to use hyphens when the compound adjective comes after the noun. For example, the student is well behaved.

Trick to use a Hyphen

This trick is very famous to get to know whether to use hyphens between words to form a compound adjective or not.

> You do not need to use hyphens when you can use the word ‘and’ between the words. For example,

1. She is wearing a pretty bright dress. (Correct)

In the above example, the adjectives are ‘pretty bright.’ Now, use the word ‘and’ between these adjectives and see if it is making sense or not.

• She is wearing a pretty and bright dress. (Correct)

You can see that after using the word ‘and’, the sentence is still making sense. It means that there is no need to use a hyphen to join ‘pretty’ and ‘bright.’

> In the same way, you would need a hyphen if the sentence will not make sense after using ‘and’ between the adjectives. For instance,

1. I feel very bad when I think about cold blooded animals. 

In the above example, the adjectives are ‘cold blooded.’ Now, use the word ‘and’ between these adjectives and see if it is making sense or not.

• I feel very bad when I think about cold and blooded animals. (Wrong)

No, it is not making sense. We truly need a hyphen to join the adjectives to make it grammatically correct. So, the correct sentence would be,

• I feel very bad when I think about cold-blooded animals. (Correct)

Types of Compound Adjectives

Compound adjectives can be categorized based on their composition, providing greater specificity and clarity in writing. Here are the main types:

• Noun + Adjective: These adjectives combine a noun with an adjective to describe a quality.
  Examples: World-famous artist, accident-prone driver.
• Adjective + Noun: This structure pairs an adjective with a noun, often denoting a specific role or quality.
  Examples: Full-time job, high-quality product.
• Adjective + Past Participle: These adjectives describe a noun using a past participle, often indicating a state or condition.
  Examples: Open-minded person, old-fashioned idea.
• Noun + Present Participle: This structure uses a noun with a present participle to express ongoing action or quality.
  Examples: Thought-provoking book, time-consuming task.
• Number + Noun: These compound adjectives indicate quantity and are often hyphenated when they modify nouns.
  Examples: Two-week vacation, four-story building.

Common Mistakes with Compound Adjectives

When using compound adjectives, writers often make the following common mistakes:

• Incorrect Hyphenation: Failing to use hyphens can lead to confusion.
  Incorrect: “The teacher gave a well-known scholar a recommendation.”
  Correct: “The teacher gave a well-known scholar a recommendation.”
• Unnecessary Hyphenation: Adding hyphens where they are not needed, particularly with adverbs ending in “-ly.”
  Incorrect: “She is a highly-skilled artist.”
  Correct: “She is a highly skilled artist.”

Compound Adjectives and Style Guides

Different style guides offer specific rules for using hyphens in compound adjectives. Adhering to these guidelines can enhance your writing, especially in academic and professional contexts.

• APA Style Guide: According to APA, compound adjectives should be hyphenated when they precede the noun they modify.
  Example: “A well-established theory is essential for understanding.”
• Chicago Manual of Style: Chicago also recommends hyphenating compound adjectives before a noun to prevent ambiguity.
  Example: “The high-quality materials were sourced locally.”
• MLA Style: In MLA, similar hyphenation rules apply. Ensure you hyphenate compound adjectives before the nouns they modify.
  Example: “He bought a state-of-the-art computer.”

Check Out: How Do We Write Titles In AP Style?

What Did You Learn?

Compound adjectives are adjectives that are used to modify nouns; usually hyphenated; and may consist of more than one word.

You will always find out a subject and predicate in an independent clause (sentence). The predicate is the verb that the subject does in the sentence. Compound means consisting of two or more separate parts. It means that a compound predicate, as the name implies, consists of two or more than two verbs. These separate verbs are joined together by a conjunction and make up a compound predicate.

For example,

1. The girls went to the market and bought five different dresses.

In the above example, ‘and’ is the conjunction that is used to connect two verb phrases ‘went to the market’ and ‘bought five different dress.’

Things to Remember About Compound Predicate

> Always remember that a single predicate is not enough to make up a compound predicate. For instance,

• The girls went to the market.

The above example sentence consists of only one verb phrase, ‘went to the market’, which is an example of a simple predicate. So, it is necessary to have two or more verbs for a compound predicate. For example,

• The girls went to the market and bought five dresses. (Correct)

> One thing more that you should remember about a compound predicate; it should have only one subject not more than it. The only subject will be doing all the actions (verbs). For example,

• My sister woke up early and then decided to go outside.

In the above example, the only subject is ‘sister’ who is performing the two actions ‘woke up early’ and ‘then decided to go outside.’

Compound Predicate = One Subject + Two or more Verb Phrases

Why Should a Writer use Compound Predicates?

A compound predicate is important to make writing productive, fruitful, and concise. If you will repeat the same subject twice or thrice, it will ruin your entire writing because that will be considered unessential. For example,

• My mother cooked delicious food. My mother arranged a grand dinner for me.

The above example sentence is not efficient. So, we should combine these sentences, by using the idea of a compound predicate, to make it more concise and productive.

• My mother cooked delicious food and arranged a grand dinner for me.

More Examples

1. The cat looked at the boy and sat quietly.
2. They were planning to go outside but decided to stay at home.
3. We baked and ate the whole cake.
4. I took classes, worked hard, and passed the exams.
5. The students prepared the project and presented it very well.

Compound Predicate vs. Compound Sentence

A common source of confusion in grammar is the difference between a compound predicate and a compound sentence. A compound predicate occurs when one subject performs multiple actions (verbs) connected by a conjunction, whereas a compound sentence consists of two independent clauses, each with its own subject and verb, joined by a conjunction.

• Compound Predicate: She cleaned the house and cooked dinner.
  (One subject, “she,” performing two actions: “cleaned” and “cooked”)
• Compound Sentence: She cleaned the house, and she cooked dinner.
  (Two independent clauses, each with its own subject and verb: “she cleaned” and “she cooked”)

and,

• Compound Predicate: The dog barked loudly and chased the cat.
  (One subject, “the dog,” with two actions: “barked” and “chased”)
• Compound Sentence: The dog barked loudly, and the cat ran away.
  (Two independent clauses, “the dog barked” and “the cat ran,” each with a separate subject)

Using compound predicates keeps writing concise by avoiding repetition of the subject.

Compound sentences, on the other hand, are useful when the subject or ideas are distinct but related, and it helps in maintaining a logical flow in writing.

Common Mistakes with Compound Predicates

When forming compound predicates, writers often make mistakes such as repeating the subject unnecessarily or failing to maintain parallel verb forms. This can disrupt the sentence flow and make the sentence sound awkward or redundant.

• Mistake: My sister woke up early and my sister went for a walk.
  (The subject “my sister” is unnecessarily repeated.)
• Correction: My sister woke up early and went for a walk.
  (The subject is only used once, with two actions: “woke up” and “went.”)

and,

• Mistake: He enjoys swimming and to ride a bike.
  (The verbs “swimming” (gerund) and “to ride” (infinitive) are not parallel.)
• Correction: He enjoys swimming and riding a bike.
  (Both verbs are in parallel form: gerunds “swimming” and “riding.”)

To avoid these mistakes, make sure to:

• Use the subject only once when forming a compound predicate.
• Ensure that the verbs in a compound predicate are in parallel form (e.g., both in the gerund, both in the infinitive, or both in the past tense). This helps create smoother, more readable sentences.

Check Out: What Are Compound Adjectives?

What Did You Learn?

Hence, compound predicates seem to be very important for writing to make it productive and concise. It is such a part of a sentence that consists of two or more verbs or verb phrases with only one subject. In this, the verbs or verb phrases are combined with a conjunction.