Punctuation 101: Understanding The Semicolon

Grammar 101: Understanding The Semicolon

If you're learning English, semicolons can be the most challenging punctuation mark to learn to use. But that's okay because the only thing you need to know to start using them is what they are and how to use them. Whether you want to improve your writing to write effectively or better your English in general, you’ll need to be comfortable with using semicolons. We’ve written this article to help you know what semicolons are and how to use them. So, without further ado, let’s dive into [what a semicolon](https://rephrasely.com/blog/ understanding-semicolon/) is! Keep reading.

What Is a Semicolon?

A semicolon is a punctuation mark used to connect two independent clauses. An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb and can stand alone as a complete sentence.

For example, "I eat breakfast every morning" is an independent clause. We can use a semicolon to connect two independent clauses, like this: "I eat breakfast every morning; I never skip it."

We can also use semicolons to join items in a list when those items themselves contain commas. For example, this often happens in lists of places, like this: "I have been to New York, New York; Los Angeles, California; and Portland, Oregon."

How To Use a Semicolon

You can use semicolons to join items in a list when those items themselves contain commas. This often happens in lists of places, like this: "I have been to Cape Town, South Africa; Rome, Italy; and Vancouver, Canada."

You can also use a semicolon to connect two independent clauses that are closely related. For example, "I have a big project due tomorrow; I can't go to the party tonight," and "I'm almost out of coffee; I need to go to the store."

Additionally, you can also use a semicolon before conjunctions like "however," "thus," and "therefore" when they join two independent clauses. For example, "it's raining outside; therefore, I can't go for a walk."

Pro tip: If you are unsure whether your sentence needs a comma or a semicolon, try replacing the semicolon with a comma. If the sentence still makes sense, use a comma. If the sentence doesn’t make sense, use a semicolon.

Semicolon Misuse

One of the most common mistakes people make with semicolons is confusing them with other punctuation marks. So pay attention to where you put them, and remember that semicolons are not interchangeable with commas or colons.

It is important to remember that a semicolon is not simply a stronger form of a comma. Instead, they serve different grammatical functions, and using them interchangeably often results in errors.

Remember that a semicolon connects two closely related independent clauses that can stand as complete sentences. However, dependent clauses cannot form complete sentences independently, so they must be joined to the main clause with a comma.

A common mistake is using a comma instead of a semicolon to join independent clauses. This creates an error called a comma splice.

For example, “the professor is currently on academic leave, she is in Italy researching for her book on Renaissance ivory carvings” is a comma splice, and should be, “the professor is currently on academic leave; she is in Italy researching for her book on Renaissance ivory carvings,” instead.

Instead of being combined into one sentence, these two clauses must be separated; they can be connected with a semicolon or conjunction.

Also, although [semicolons and colons](https://rephrasely.com/blog/ understanding-semicolon/) look similar, they serve different purposes. For example, semicolons are typically used to connect two independent clauses, while colons are used to introduce a list or a statement.

Pro tip: If you’re still unsure whether you should use a semicolon, try reading your sentence out loud. If you pause after the first clause and it sounds natural, then use a semicolon. On the other hand, [use a comma](https://rephrasely.com/blog/ understanding-semicolon/) or period if it sounds awkward or you have to pause for a long time.

The Conclusion on Using The Semicolon

Semicolons are important punctuation marks that can make your writing flow more smoothly.

Remember that you can use a semicolon to connect two independent clauses without using a conjunction. For example, “I love dogs; they are my best friends.”

You can also use a semicolon before a list in a sentence. For example, “I love dogs; they are great companions, always loyal, and always happy to see me.”

We hope you’ve enjoyed our introduction to semicolons! Feel free to share this article with a fellow English student!

Works Cited

How to improve your writing. Rephrasely. (n.d.). Retrieved November 23, 2022, from https://rephrasely.com/blog/how-to-improve-your-writing 20 important questions to consider when writing an essay. Rephrasely. (n.d.). Retrieved November 23, 2022, from https://rephrasely.com/blog/20-important-questions-to-consider-when-writing-an-essay

Punctuation: Colon and semicolon. Western Michigan University. (2012, November 12). Retrieved November 23, 2022, from https://wmich.edu/writing/punctuation/colon YOURDICTIONARY. (n.d.). Comma splice examples and how to fix them. YourDictionary. Retrieved November 23, 2022, from https://examples.yourdictionary.com/comma-splice-examples.html