Question

Which punctuation would be correct in the following sentence?

D’Shawn’s eyes took a moment to adjust to the light: it was a moment too long.
D’Shawn’s eyes took a moment to adjust to the light; it was a moment too long.

light: it

both are correct

neither is correct

light; it

Answer 1

Both are grammatically acceptable.

- Colon: D’Shawn’s eyes took a moment to adjust to the light: it was a moment too long.
Use this if you want the second clause to read as an explanation or emphatic amplification of the first.

- Semicolon: D’Shawn’s eyes took a moment to adjust to the light; it was a moment too long.
Use this if you simply want to join two closely related independent clauses without that extra emphasis.

(You can also use a period or other punctuation depending on the rhythm you want.)