When to use a "semicolon" vs "colon"?

Hi there, Votimo_78.

A colon is a dot on top of another dot ( : ).  It is used to give a set of information related to the clause before it. The details could be a list, example, or explanation.  You can also use a colon instead of saying “which is/are,” “as follows,” or “thus” in a sentence.

For example, "I like eating Japanese food as follows ramen, tempura, and takoyaki." This can be written as "I like eating Japanese food: ramen, tempura, and takoyaki."

On the other hand, a semicolon, a dot over a comma ( ; ), is used to join two sentences or clauses just like a conjunction.

For instance: I like eating Japanese food; it is always warm and comforting. ( I like eating Japanese food because [conjunction] it is always warm and comforting.)

The addition of the clause after the semicolon gives supporting details to the previous clause.