Colons, Dashes, and Other Punctuation

This is the section of the site where I discuss punctuation marks that don't warrant their own pages in the context of fiction writing.

A period (.) concludes a sentence or abbreviation.

Ellipses (. . .) indicate missing words.

A colon (:) separates two sections of a sentence that are related to one another.

A dash (--) is a less formal colon that also indicates a relationship.

An exclamation mark (!) once denoted emphasis but has been used so much as a cheap tool to grab attention that it's almost useless.

Follow these guidelines when using these punctuation marks:

• Use periods to indicate the end of a sentence.
• Use periods after abbreviations, using only one period if the abbreviation appears at the end of a sentence.
• Use ellipses to indicate that a character is trailing off or skipping words.
• Use colons to introduce explanatory phrases or lists.
• Use the dash to mark a tangent or break in thought.
• Use the dash to mark an element for emphasis.
• Ease up on those exclamation marks.
• Don't use shortcut punctuation such as & in fiction.

Use periods to indicate the end of a sentence.

You remember this from grade school: a period is a stop sign.

So that was what the world was like.

Use periods after abbreviations, using only one period if the abbreviation appears at the end of a sentence.

Again, this should be review.

I miss Dr. Jerrick. He knew the gastrointestinal tract: stomach, intestines, etc.

Incidentally, it is usually not a good idea to use the word etc. in your writing. It usually indicates you haven't thought something through or are being unclear.

Use ellipses to indicate that a character is trailing off or skipping words.

In nonfiction, these indicate missing words.

According to court records, "Fran....opened the hatch and let the bees out."

In fiction, they usually indicate a character is just trailing off to inaudibility.

"No," said Mother, looking out the window and drying a plate. "You just go on without me..."

Use colons to introduce explanatory phrases or lists.

This differs from the semicolon because a colon denotes a subordinate relationship between the two sections of the sentence.

We fight today for one purpose: to prove to our fathers that we're as tough as they were.

The following people are enemies of the state: Don, Ray, Mac, and Norman.

Use the dash to mark a tangent or break in thought.

The dash is underused in fiction (although Emily Dickinson used enough dashes to compensate). Try using them every now and then for drama or contrast.

Mother--we all knew she was hopped up on painkillers and cough syrup--approached the bench to talk to the judge.

Use the dash to mark an element for emphasis.

A dash is well-used for emphasis.

That was it--there was no reason to keep going.

A dash is like a colon in a hurry, less formal and closer to common conversation.

Ease up on those exclamation marks.

Unless you have travelled in time back to the 19th and early 20th centuries, the exclamation mark should not make a frequent appearance in your work.

"Good heavens!" exclaimed Mrs. Marthlewhite, shielding her face with her fan. "Are those the degenerate human scum of the lower orders protesting for the right to an 80 hour work week? Give it to them and they'll want more! Health care! Working toilets!"

Exclamation marks seem either juvenile or hysterical. You probably don't want to appear as either in your fiction.

Don't use shortcut punctuation such as & in fiction.

This seems obvious to me, but I'm sure editors get manuscripts with weird characters in them.

In fiction:

• Use and instead of &.
• Use at instead of @, unless you're citing a Web address.
• Use plus and minus instead of + and -, unless you're writing an equation.