---
title: Colons and Semi-Colons
pubDate: 2026-08-17T09:53:44.266Z
antora:
  editUrl: https://github.com/couchbaselabs/docs-style-guide/edit/main/styleguide/modules/ROOT/pages/colons.adoc
  xref: xref:styleguide::colons.adoc[]
---

[Consult the llms.txt file for a full list of contents](/llms.txt)
[View original HTML](/styleguide/colons.html)

# Colons and Semi-Colons

Use the following guidance for when to add a colon or semi-colon to your text.

## [](#colons)Colons

Use colons to introduce examples, such as an image or a code block, in your text.

Use a colon to introduce an ordered or unordered list.

## [](#semi-colons)Semi-Colons

Try to avoid using a semi-colon. In most cases, a period and a pair of shorter sentences is fine.

If you're using a semi-colon to separate complex items in a list, just change the list to an ordered or unordered list.

Otherwise, try to follow the Google Developer Style Guide's [guidance on semi-colons](https://developers.google.com/style/semicolons).