When do you use a semicolon in a sentence

But first, a caveat: avoid the common mistake of using a semicolon to replace a colon see Colons. Incorrect: I have one goal; to find her. Correct: I have one goal: to find her. Rule 1a. A semicolon can replace a period if the writer wishes to narrow the gap between two closely linked sentences independent clauses.

Examples: Call me tomorrow; you can give me an answer then. We have paid our dues; we expect all the privileges listed in the contract. Rule 1b. Avoid a semicolon when a dependent clause comes before an independent clause. To receive informative articles and tailored advice for academics and students, as well as updates about our exciting grant and scholarship opportunities, please subscribe to our blog. Share this article.

When to Use a Semicolon A semicolon ; is a punctuation mark that has two main functions: Semicolons separate items in a complex list. Semicolons join two closely related independent clauses.

For example, Taylor hates the Friday commute; platform 24 is always overcrowded. What is an Independent Clause? She loves going to the beach in hot weather. Using a Semicolon to Avoid a Comma Splice Two independent clauses as in the example above should only be joined with a semicolon to create a complex sentence.

This is an example of a comma splice: Donning his hat, he walked to the door, he would never see Tommy again. We can go to the museum to do some research; Mondays are pretty quiet there. Remember, semicolons are not interchangeable with commas or periods. Sounds pretty cunning to us. You can use a semicolon to join two closely related independent clauses.

Martha has gone to the library; Andrew has gone to play soccer. Notice that the letter following the semicolon is not capitalized. The examples above are both made up of two complete, grammatically correct sentences glued together.

Yes, that means there are six total sentences up there—and thanks to the semicolon, only two capital letters. Using a comma instead of a semicolon in the sentences above would result in a comma splice. I saw a magnificent albatross; it was eating a mouse. You need a comma plus something to avoid a comma splice. Why not use a period, then? Semicolons represent two closely linked independent clauses.

If one or both of the clauses isn't complete, consider using a colon instead. This may leave you wondering if you should use a colon or a semicolon to connect two independent clauses. Here's a good rule of thumb. If the two clauses are merely related, not necessarily sequential in thought, use a semicolon.

However, if the two related clauses follow a sequence of thought, use a colon. There's also a smaller, yet important, role that semicolons play.

That is, they stand in for commas in lists when commas alone would be confusing. Take a look at the examples below. Each item in the list contains commas itself, so using commas to separate the items would lead to ambiguity.

As such, the semicolon comes to the rescue to divide the lists, acting as a comma, but allowing for greater organization and clarity. Wasn't that exciting?

Colons can do more than offset a long, bulleted list. They can also separate two clauses and introduce a valuable quote. As for semicolons, you can now join the ranks of grammarians who use them properly.

Proficiency will never go out of style. Ready for another controversial punctuation mark? Review these eight times commas were important to see if your comma game is on point. Then, enjoy your status as a Grammar Pro! All rights reserved. Examples of Colons and Semicolons in Sentences.