How to use Colon [:]

 1.Use a colon after a complete sentence to introduce a list.

-  In order to join the party, you need to bring the  following items: cooking utensils, water, and canned  food.

-  My sister wants me to buy these following items as her birthday’s gift: skirt ,shoes, and bag.

-  I want my personal stylist who can do the following: (1) mix and match the clothes, (2) keep update a new fashion all the time, and (3) able to work in irregular hours.

       2. Use a colon after a complete sentence to introduce a quotation.

-  He always said that his favorite quote is the one from Oscar Wilde: A man who does not think for himself does not think at all.

-  My favorite quote is the one of Oscar Wilde: Ambition is the last refuge of the failure.

-  He puts one of the quotes by Victor Hugo in his new book: The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved, loved for ourselves, or rather loved in spite of ourselves.

    3.Use a colon after a complete sentence to introduce an explanation or clarification.

-  There is only two things that my little sister love: eating and singing.

-  In order to get a bonus, you need to do two things: work hard and be smart in front of you boss.

-  What you can do to get a good grade: work hard and read books.

Semicolons

1.Put a semicolon between two related independent clauses.

-Pat is so happy; She got a first prize.
-PK is very busy right now; He can't find a time to eat.
-He is very hungry; he can eat everything.
 
2.Put a semicolon between two independent clauses joined by a conjunctive adverb.

-Bell always study hard;as a result, he got a good grade.
-Hong went to the mall;however, she didn't buy anything.
-Pat didn't listen to teacher;moreover,she was listening to her ipod.

 
3.Use semicolons to set off item in a series when the items have internal commas.

-Yesterday when i was travelling to standford university, I met Mai,histologist; Fookie,dentist; and Dao, Psychologist.
-Three famous inventors are Thomas Edison,  American inventor;  Louis Brennan, Australian inventor; and Rudolf Diesel, France inventor.
-When i was an exchange student, i met Dao, Thai exchange student; Hong, korea exchange student; and Mai, Singapore exchange student.

4.Use a semicolon before a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)

-I want to go swimming; but i am busy right now.
-Do you want to go shopping; or play bowling.
-I need to buy a gift; and eat a dinner at departmenstore.