Colons and semicolons

Using colons in lists

Introduce numbered or bullet lists with lead-in text, followed by a colon.

Lists

Using colons in headings and titles 

You can use a colon within a heading or title (for example on a webpage or as an event name). Capitalise the word following the colon. 

Using colons to join separate statements

You can also use colons to join separate statements together in a sentence, when the second statement explains the first.

Semicolons

Use semicolons to join two closely related but separate statements. Unlike a colon, the second part of the sentence does not explain the first.

You can also use semicolons to separate items in a list within a sentence. Often a bullet list is more readable.

Do not introduce lists with a semicolon.

Lists