By Colons, Intonations

I wouldn't write it with a colon; it's all one sentence. I'm not even convinced that a comma is needed.The most usual position for an adverb of time is at the end, but at the beginning is fine.Today we're going to study trigonometry (answers the question: what are we going to do today?).We're...

I like the dash. It lets one add emphasis and (dramatic) pauses.I think the summary in Webster's Third New International Dictionary is excellent:7. THE DASH7.0 In its function in writing and in the speech intonation to which it corresponds, the dash is similar to the comma and the colon, and a...

I suppose it would vary from person to person; but I am myself conscious of a difference in pause-length between a comma and a semi-colon. Also, I think I would end a clause with a slightly different intonation, before a semi-colon. Here, for instance: 1. I sighed as a lover, I obeyed as a...