Homogeneous members sentences are called words that answer the same question, refer to the same word in the sentence and are the same member of the sentence.
Homogeneous members are separated from each other commas:
It was light, joyful, warm!
Snow, rain, wind didn't care about this man.
perky, cheerful, marvelous familiar a voice stopped him.
He ran, flew, ran towards your dream.
Comma is placed between homogeneous members if they are connected:
- repeated alliances either...then, neither...neither, or...or:
That snow, then wind; - double alliances somehow and, not only-but also, if not something:
Both trees and bushes were green. Not only trees, but also bushes turned green. The leaves bloom, if not in April, then in May (a comma before if not put).
Before solitary union "and" no comma:
Trees, bushes, flowers, and herbs turned green.
A sentence can have several rows of homogeneous members:
Maples and birches crowded on hillocks and hollows.
Colon is placed before the enumeration if:
- it is necessary to warn the reader that what follows is an enumeration:
Meanwhile, there are many factories and factories here: hat, glass, paper), etc. (I. A. Goncharov) - listing is preceded by:
generalizing word: In a person, everything should be perfect: the face, and clothes, and the soul, and thoughts. (A.P. Chekhov);
introductory word(somehow, namely, for example, etc.), while the introductory word is separated by a comma: For trade, these crafts barely deliver a few unimportant items, such as skins, horns, fangs. (I. A. Goncharov)
Dash is placed after the enumeration, located in the middle of the sentence, if the generalizing word is after the homogeneous members of the sentence: From the house, from the trees, from the dovecote - from Total long shadows fled. (I. A. Goncharov)
Colon and dash an enumeration in the middle of a sentence is highlighted if this enumeration is preceded by a generalizing word, and after the enumeration the sentence continues: And he has a lot of good: furs, satin, silver - both in plain sight and under locks. (A. S. Pushkin).
Tasks and tests on the topic "Homogeneous members of the sentence and punctuation marks with "and"
- Homogeneous members of the sentence, punctuation marks with them - Offer. Phrase 4th grade
Lessons: 1 Assignments: 9 Tests: 1
- Proposals with homogeneous members. Generalizing words - Basic concepts of syntax and punctuation Grade 5
Lessons: 2 Assignments: 8 Tests: 3
- Punctuation with homogeneous members connected by non-repeating, repeating and paired unions - Simple complicated sentence Grade 11
Lessons: 2 Assignments: 6 Tests: 1
- Punctuation marks in definitions and applications - Simple complicated sentence Grade 11
Lessons: 2 Assignments: 7 Tests: 1
Attention! AT different rows, a comma before "and" is not possible!
Remember that:
- if the generalizing word is in front of homogeneous members, then a colon is placed after it;
- if the generalizing word is after homogeneous members, then a dash is placed after the generalizing word;
- if a generalizing word is in front of homogeneous members, then, as you already know, a colon is placed after it; but if after the enumeration the sentence continues, then a dash must be put after the homogeneous members.
For example:
Everyone: children, adults, dogs - mixed up in one heap.
When is a colon used in a sentence? It is usually used in or where any part of speech is present. In this article, we will talk about when a colon is put. So, below is a list of rules that govern the formulation of this and specific examples. When is a colon placed?
Russian language rules
1. In the event that after the words of the author in the sentence there is a direct speech. Examples:
Approaching the counter, Alexei said: "Please give me a carton of milk."
I thought: “Is it worth trusting him?”
If the sentence does not use direct speech and there is indirect (for example "I thought it would be nice to be on time"), then the colon is not used. Unions and commas are used instead.
2. A colon is placed if two sentences are combined into one without the help of unions, and the second part reveals the meaning of the words of the first. Example:
We finally descended from the mountain and looked around: in front of us was a clean lake.
Two guards saw: the thieves still fled.
3. A colon is also placed if the sentence consists of several parts (compound). In this case, two situations are possible:
. The second part of the sentence reveals the meaning of the first. Example:
Elena was right: the only person who could stop him was his father.
Ivan did not trust him: he was afraid that Semyon would deceive him again.
The reason is explained in the second part. Example:
I didn’t trust you for a reason: you were always silent and extremely cold.
4. When is a colon placed? In a sentence after and before listing something with which it ends. Example:
All his relatives lived in this house: mother, father, aunt, grandmother and mother-in-law. Her apartment was so clean that everything seemed to shine: dishes, mirrors, and even the floor. Predators live in this forest: wolves, foxes and bears.
5. A colon is placed in a sentence if something is listed, but there is no generalizing word. Example:
Sticking out of the bag: a wallet, documents, a comb and a passport.
From the apartment came out: a woman, a man and a child.
6. A colon is placed in the case of listing something, the presence of a generalizing word or the following words: “like that”, “for example”, “namely”. Examples:
He had many plans for the near future, for example: to buy a computer, go on vacation and get married.
Evgeny was interested in information about the city of Astrakhan, namely: when it was founded, how many people live in it and what sights there are.
Other cases
In what cases is a colon added?
. In mathematics, as a division sign. Example: 6:3=2.
. In information technology when designating computer disks. Example: D:R: etc.
Now you know when a colon is put, and you can safely use it. Often, due to illiteracy or due to inattention, instead of this punctuation mark, the “dash” sign can be used. This is an unacceptable violation. And in mathematics, the division sign can be indicated in several ways: 6/3=2 or 6:3=2.
In Russian, there are a fairly large number of punctuation marks. Some are used to complete a sentence, others emphasize intonation and mood, others divide a passage of text into logical parts. To understand what the colon is used for, it is necessary to consider in which cases it is used.
First you need to remember that this sign is in most cases placed in complex sentences, except for some moments.
- In Russian there is such a thing as a "generalizing word". For a better understanding, consider the example of the sentence "There were tools on the table: a hammer, a drill, a saw and a jigsaw." This sentence talks about the tools that are on the table, and then they are all listed. In this case, the word "tools" will be generalizing. From here we get the first rule, which says that the colon must be placed after the generalizing word. To consolidate, let's give another example: "By tomorrow I need to do my lessons: biology, algebra and geography."
- Headlines such as "Ivanov: gamer and programmer" also contain this sign. If we consider a specific rule, then the first part of the title should indicate the actor, some problem or place of action. The second part of the title gives specifics to the first. "Economy of the country: further development".
- Assume that there is no generalizing word, but there is an enumeration. In this case, the sign will also be placed, for example: "On the table were: phone, keys and money."
Colon in compound sentences
Cases of using this punctuation mark in complex constructions much more, but there is nothing difficult in this.
- Consider this example: “This morning, my mother told me, “Don’t forget to stop by the store and buy some milk.” This example contains direct speech, and if it comes after the words of the author, then it must be preceded by a colon. Please note that if the sentence looks like this: “Go to the store and buy milk,” my mother told me, “then the colon will not be put, since direct speech comes before the words of the author.
- Unionless compound sentences are unionless because they simply do not have unions: “Mom cleans the room, I do my homework.” This is a very simple sentence, requiring no punctuation other than a comma. But how about this example: "Read more books: they will increase your vocabulary, teach you how to write and speak correctly." Why is there a colon in this case? There is a rule that says: if the second part of a non-union complex sentence reveals the meaning of the first part or indicates the reason, then a colon is placed after the first part. The statement encourages reading books and further indicates the reason for the motivation. “The weather was very bad: it was raining and there was a strong wind” is another good example for this rule.
- Another rule about putting this punctuation mark says that it must be placed between two simple sentences that are not connected by a union, if the first contains verbs like “see”, “look”, “hear”, “know” and so Further. These words seem to hint at a further description of something. The rule sounds rather complicated, but in fact the opposite is true. “I peered for a long time and finally realized: the shadows on the wall reminded me of a human silhouette.” “Walking down the street, I hear: someone is calling me.” These two examples perfectly illustrate the rule.
- Words such as "namely", "for example", "by the way" require a colon after them. “Last year I traveled to all the major countries, namely China, the United States, Brazil and Indonesia.” Please note that without the expression "namely", in this example, the colon would still be put.
Is a colon necessary for indirect speech?
We have considered all cases in Russian when a colon is placed. I would like to focus on direct speech. The fact is that in addition to it, indirect speech is also used, and they must be distinguished in order to put the correct punctuation mark.
- Mom told me: "We need to go to the store and buy milk." Mom said to throw out the trash. The second sentence will be indirect speech. It can be easily identified by several conjunctions, such as "what", "to", "when", "why" and others. Indirect speech is a subordinate clause in a complex sentence and is not distinguished by a colon.
Summing up, we can say that the colon serves as a punctuation mark, which is placed only in the middle of a simple sentence in the case of a generalizing word and enumeration. In a complex construction, this punctuation mark is necessary if there is a reason explaining the first part of the sentence, if there is direct speech, if there are clarifying words and verbs hinting at a further description of something.
Video
This video will help you understand when to use a colon in a sentence.
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Have you often had to think while writing when a colon is put, and when a dash? Probably often, because these punctuation marks, like any others, require certain rules to be observed, although in some cases they are very similar. But which ones - we will talk later in the article.
Relationship between generalizing words and colon or dash
Arguing about when a colon is put, and when a dash, first of all, we need to mention those sentences in which homogeneous members are used, and they have a generalizing word. It is after it, before the enumeration, that a colon is needed.
So, for example, in the sentence: You could always find interesting things in his backpack: pebbles, bolts, metal balls and even a fly in a matchbox.”, before the enumeration there is a generalizing word “ things”, followed by a colon in this situation.
If the generalizing word is after the enumeration, then it is required to put a dash before it. For example: " Pebbles, bolts, metal balls and even a fly in a matchbox - these are the things that can always be found in Petka's backpack».
By the way, after a generalizing word, you can often find a dash, which is also the right option. For example: " Everything is different there - language, way of life and even values».
Colon and dash in non-union complex sentences
There are several cases when a colon is placed in complex non-union sentences:
- If the second part of a complex sentence explains the content of the first. Then between them you can put unions "namely" or "like that." For example: “Everything in nature spoke of joy: the sun shone brightly from a clear sky, and birds sang in different voices.”
- If the second part of the sentence indicates the reason for what is mentioned in the first part. Then, by the way, it is easy to put the unions “because” and “because” between the parts. For example: "Ivan was a very distrustful person: his close people let him down too often."
- Another case where a colon is placed between parts of a sentence is one where one part warns that the statement will continue further. In such sentences, in the first part, as a rule, one of the verbs is used: see, know, hear, feel, etc. For example: “Peter and Anna knew: they would definitely have a big and noisy family.” As you can see, between the parts of this sentence and those similar to it, you can put the union “what”, thus turning it into a complex sentence.
It is also acceptable to use a dash instead of a colon in these sentences. Compare:
- He knew something bad had happened..
- It’s better not to say such things in front of him - he may be offended.
- It seemed to them - a little more, and everything will come true.
By the way, sentences with a warning about the continuation of the story should be distinguished from complex sentences that do not contain one. In this case, a comma is placed between the parts. For example: " I know they will live with us».
When a colon is put in a sentence with direct speech
In those sentences where direct speech is used, a colon is placed after the words of the author, for example:
- On the way home, Nina plaintively asked Sonya: “Will you ever be able to forgive me?”
- She said through her teeth: "If you knew how I hate this life."
Sentences that include direct speech must be distinguished from complex structures. In the latter, a comma is placed before the subordinate clause, for example:
- On the way home, Nina plaintively asked Sonya if she could count on forgiveness.
- She said through clenched teeth that she absolutely hated this life.
When is a colon used in a title?
The rules for writing headings require a separate explanation. If the heading of some text is divided into two parts, and the first of them (nominative) names the person, problem, place of action, etc., and the second specifies the meaning of the first, then a colon is placed between them.
Let's look at examples of such headers:
- Angina: signs and methods of treatment of the disease.
- Mikhail Bulgakov: unknown facts from the biography of the writer.
- Ten days in India: a land of wonders and contrasts.
So what to put - a dash or a colon?
In conclusion, it can be said that in modern language it is becoming easier to decide when to put a colon and when it is better to use a dash, since the dash in this " duel” often comes out victorious.
According to the famous D. E. Rosenthal, the dash is a freer sign, often “ entering” and into the domain of the colon. What explains this? The linguist believes that the dash in a sentence performs not only purely syntactic functions, but also gives it an emotionally expressive coloring. Obviously, that is why authors in fiction and in periodicals love to use it so much. As an example, we can cite a few phrases from newspapers: Elections behind - you can sum up" or " Experts call this process quite natural - the demand for land has increased».
So, it is possible to decide when a colon is put in a sentence, and when - a dash, and based on the author's preferences.
11 simple rules that will help you learn how to create correct and readable lists anywhere: in presentations, reports, documents or websites.
When compiling documents, we often come across all sorts of lists. There are simple and multi-level lists. How to arrange them? When to use numbering, letters and dashes? When would a period be appropriate at the end of each list item, and when would a comma or semicolon be needed?
When compiling documents, we often come across all sorts of lists. At the same time, there are a great many rules for their design. Let's try to understand them.
Designation of list elements
The pre-list clause and the elements of the subsequent list (listed after the colon) can be written on a single line. But in long and complex lists, it is much more convenient to place each element on a new line. And here you have a choice: you can limit yourself to using a paragraph indent (Example 1) or replace it with a number, letter or dash (Example 2).
Example 1
Example 2
Lists are:
simple, those. consisting of one level of text division (see Examples 1 and 2) and
composite, including 2 or more levels (see Example 3).
The choice of characters that will precede each element of the list depends on the depth of division. In the design of simple lists, you can use lowercase ("small") letters, Arabic numerals or dashes.
The situation is much more complicated with composite lists. For more visibility combinations of different symbols in the lists, we give an example of the design of a 4-level list:
Example 3
From this example, it can be seen that the rubric numbering system is as follows: the first-level heading is formatted using Roman numerals, the second-level headings are formatted using Arabic numerals without brackets, the third-level headings are formatted using Arabic numerals with brackets, and finally the fourth-level headings formatted using lowercase letters with brackets. If this list suggested another, fifth level, then we would draw it up with a dash.
Numbering system for parts of a composite list can only consist of Arabic numerals with dots. Then the structure of constructing the number of each element of the list reflects its subordination in relation to the elements located above (there is an increase in digital indicators):
Example 4
If at the end of the list is "and others", "etc." or "etc.", then such text is not placed on a separate line, but left at the end of the previous list element (see Examples 3 and 4).
Punctuation for lists
Example 3 clearly shows that the headings of the first and second levels begin capital letters, and the headings of subsequent levels are from lowercase. This happens because after the Roman and Arabic (without brackets) numerals, according to the rules of the Russian language, a dot is put, and after the dot, as we all remember from elementary school, a new sentence begins, which is written with a capital letter. Arabic numerals with brackets and lower case letters with brackets are not followed by a period, so the following text begins with a small letter. The last provision, by the way, also applies to a dash, since it is difficult to imagine a combination of a dash with a dot after it.
pay attention to punctuation at the end
headings of the list, as well as at the end of words and phrases in its composition.
If the heading assumes the subsequent division of the text, then a colon is placed at the end of it, if there is no subsequent division, a period is put.
Example 5
If parts of the list consist of simple phrases or one word, they are separated from each other by commas (see Example 5). If the parts of the list are complicated (there are commas inside them), it is better to separate them with a semicolon (see Example 6).
Example 6
Finally, if the parts of the list are separate sentences, they are separated from each other by a dot:
Example 7
Sometimes the list is designed in such a way that it is preceded by a whole sentence (or several sentences). In this case, only the so-called "lower" levels of articulation (lowercase letters with brackets or dashes) are used in the list, and dots are not put at the end of each part of the list, because in this case, the list is a single sentence:
Example 8
It happens that in any parts of the list, which are phrases, an independent sentence is included, starting with a capital letter. Regardless of the fact that, according to the rules of the Russian language, a period should be placed at the end of the sentence, each element of the list will be separated from the next by a semicolon:
Example 9
List Item Consistency
When compiling lists, it is imperative to pay attention to the fact that the initial words of each element of the list are consistent with each other in gender, number and case. In Example 10, we have shown a variant of incorrect formatting: the last element of the list is used in a different case compared to the rest. Such errors usually occur in long lists with a large number of elements.
Example 10
Also, all elements of the list must necessarily agree in gender, number and case with the words (or word) in the sentence preceding the list, followed by a colon. Let's revisit the example of incorrect listing to analyze the errors.
Example 11
This list may seem irreproachable, if not for one "but". The word “compliance” requires after itself words in the genitive case that would answer the questions “whom? what?". Therefore, each section should begin like this:
So, we have given the basic rules for building and designing lists that will help make your documents even more literate.