Can someone please explain to me when : ; and - are used in sentances?

Answer 1

":" is used i believe as the dude above me stated when you want to list sentences

This was her list of things to do: Pick up the Laundry, Clean the House, and pick up the kids

";" is used i believe when you want to list single words for example
Her shopping list included; apples, pears, tomatos and potatos

a "-" is sometimes used when you want to split up a word two lines but if it is used too much it gets tedious for the reader

a dash is also used i think when you want to make and emphisize a pause like the use of a comma in a way

Answer 2

Many people are confused about how to punctuate. Me included. I bought this 4 page booklet that is laminated from walmart.
Use this quickstudy.com
I use several of the quick study books
pays to keep them close by.
Good Luck
http://www.barcharts.com/
BarCharts, Inc.
6000 Park of Commerce Blvd., Suite D
Boca Raton, FL 33487
www.quickstudy.com
1-800-226-7799
http://www.thehomeschoolmagazine.com/Homeschool_Reviews/reviews.php?rid=1268

HOW TO USE PUNCTUATION
http://www.rogerdarlington.me.uk/punctuation.html
general discussion of how to use punctuation marks.
http://dictionary.reference.com/help/faq/language/g61.html
http://www.nyu.edu/classes/copyXediting/Punctuation.html

The below link explains it quite good.
How to Use Punctuation Correctly
http://www.dailyblogtips.com/how-to-use-punctuation-correctly/

Answer 3

: is used when you're about to begin a list in a sentence ; is used instead of using bullet points in that list

colours of the rainbow are: red; orange; yellow; green; blue.

thats the best way i can think to describe it. hope it helps

Answer 4

I never really understand them, but if I'm unsure I type it into word and the office assistant explains it to me