Day 166 writing tip, June 15th, 2026.
✍️ Colon, semi-colon, ellipses, comma
Comma, what can I say, it is a pause in the sentence. It creates order of lists whose whole goal is ease of reading.
How do you know when to use it: good judgement.
Train your judgement:
There are 20 pages dedicated to the comma in the Chicago Manual of Style.
Semicolons tie two independent clauses together in lieu of conjunction words like: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (including sudbordinating conjunctions).
It does reflect a closer relationship than two sentences would; the key would be if you naturally use a conjunction, you might be able to use semicolon.
According to the Chicago Manual of Style, when using these conjunctive adverbs, the semicolon should preceed in the sentence.
Adverbs mentioned are: however, thus, hence, indeed, accordingly, besides, and therefore. A comma would naturally follow the adverb.
Sally sold the seashells; indeed, she could not help herself.
Colons are used in the amplification of what was said before. The CMS (Chicago Manual of Style) warns one should use colons sparingly.
In other words, the sentences states something, then the colon is added, and everything that proceeds is emphasized, like a list of options.
We see them in formal address, like,
To whom it may concern:
Character tags,
John: The dove is in place.
Main use goes back to emphasis.
There are only three things I love: Jesus, Coca Cola, and Rock and Roll.
Ellipses...
Something is missing and the ellipses alerts you to that fact.
When using it you are signaled to the fact that there is something missing, an omission of: word, phrase, line, or paragraph.
I will use these in quotes and bracket them if the quote is lengthy but I want the reader to understand that fuller quote exists. We bracket it to show it isn't part of the original quote.
Creatively, I use mine for disruption like, fragmented thoughts, where context drops out of a characters mind and something new comes up in its place.
In coming message: The starlight...she ate the fruit...gone...please send help.
In certains creative instances it is as puposeful as an em-dash.
*note: the above information is helped by the CMS (Chicago Manual of Style); It's a worthy book to have on your shelf.