Punctuation

Congo

Suggest improvements for the highlighted problem area: Dear Principal Mirumbi; Please excuse Ajaja from school next week. He will be joining me on a tour of the Congo River. I am confident he will keep up with his school work, he has already written a schedule for studying during the trip. Our plan is to make a film documentary about three natural wonders of the Congo; Boyoma Falls, Malebo Pool, and the great cataracts above Matadi. Ajaja has already come up with a name for the film. He calls it On the Congo, Adventures of the World-Renowned Naturalist Ajaja Olatunji. I am sure his classmates will enjoy viewing the film after we return. Respectfully yours, Babatunde Olatunji Answer: - The Colon - Use the colon to mark the second half of a statement when that second half amplifies or explains the first half. Our opening paragraph shows an opportunity for this: I am confident he will keep up with his school work, he has already written a schedule for studying during the trip. Here we have two independent clauses where the second amplifies the first. So the colon is needed: I am confident he will keep up with his school work: he has already written a schedule for studying during the trip.

Write Guru