colon and semicolon with quotation marks
Where the colon and the semicolon sit with a quotation.
Put the colon and the semicolon outside the closing quotation mark: He called it “theft”: the money was gone. She said “ready”; then she left.
Examples
UseThe sign said “Closed”: the hall was empty.
UseHe muttered “go”; then he ran.
AvoidThe sign said “Closed:” the hall was empty.
AvoidHe muttered “go;” then he ran.