Like a period or colon, it often marks the end of a complete clause (that is, a sentence part that has its own subject and verb). Definition and Examples. Make sure when you use the semicolon that the connection between the two independent clauses is clear without the coordinating conjunction. You need a comma plus something to avoid a comma splice. Commas set off parenthetical elements such as an appositive, which is a noun phrase or clause that renames or describes the noun directly beside it, and nonrestrictive relative clauses: The Washington monument, a massive obelisk, was completed in 1884. The semicolon is the colon's quirkier sibling. Incorrect: The conference has people who have come from Moscow, Idaho, Springfield, California, Alamo, Tennessee, and other places as well. I like to read; I am an avid reader of historical fiction. Most often, semicolons are used to For better or worse; he will always be just a little boy to me. Meanwhile, in the second example, a general description of diners differing water preferences is captured within a single sentence. Many companies are now turning to virtual services; they are simply cheaper. Semicolons (;) separate independent clauses that are related in meaning, and they separate items in a list when those items themselves are long or include commas. I am sorry; there is nothing I can do for you. A semicolon (;) is a punctuation mark that is used to separate and connect independent clauses or when something stronger than a comma is needed. I love going there; however, it is a bit obscure. Use a semicolon to join two related independent clauses in place of a comma and a coordinating conjunction ( and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet ). Example: Amy ordered three pizzas: one with pepperoni, sausage, and mushrooms; one with bacon, ham, and green peppers; and one with tomatoes, olives, and red peppers. It's no accident that a semicolon (;) is a period atop a comma. You can use semicolons to divide the items of a list if the items are long or contain internal punctuation. = She finished top of her class; she was struggling to find work. A comma is used to separate two or more adjectives that modify the same noun. Does that mean you can use it like either one? I saw a magnificent albatross; it was eating a mouse. Delivered to your inbox. A semicolon can also replace a comma between two clauses that are joined by a coordinating conjunction like and in cases where the sentence might otherwise be confusingfor example, because of particularly long clauses, or the presence of other commas: As Mabel's culinary efforts continued, with bread baking in the oven and a cabbage dish just begun, she admonished Harry to keep out of her way; but Harry's ability to remain at a decent distance from the stove was severely challenged. She was only three years old when her folks moved abroad; she spoke perfect English when she came back to the States four years later, at age seven. Semicolon gives sense to the sentence without being too assertive. The book is informative; it has helpful charts and graphs. Some common conjunctive adverbs include. Definition and Examples, What Are Prefixes in English? In its main use, the semicolon both separates distinct ideas (as a period does) and enables those ideas to be connected within the same sentence (like a comma can): An independent clause is a clause thats capable of standing on its own. Correct: I have one goal: to find her. Note that with only commas, that sentence is hopeless. Examples of Semicolons: Joan likes eggs; Jennifer does not. It helps avoid being vague She traveled to the following countries: England, Italy, and Japan. Yup, that was one now. Grandmother opposed to my new hair color; she is afraid I will be mistaken for a skunk. I like to listen to music; I prefer jazz. They come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny, Read More Essay on Birds (800 Words)Continue, A collective noun indicates a group of people, animals, birds, things and places, etc. The wedding was beautiful, we celebrated for several hours. The scent of the baking bread was sublime, the perfume of the goulash intoxicating. The most common use of the semicolon is to join two independent, Thats exactly why you cant substitute a comma for a semicolon. your text, so your work is extra polished wherever you write. Learn more about our Privacy Statement and Cookie Policy. Use this guide to employing semicolons correctly and learn how to bring out the best in your own writing. Correct: Dante Martinez, a registered nurse; Susan Brooks, a dietician; and Chien-Ling Ko, a physical therapist, attended the meeting. A semicolon serves the same function as either (a) a period or (b) a comma + a coordinating conjunction. They made the dessert; ice cream, chocolate mousse and jelly. A semicolon (;) is a punctuation mark that is used to separate and connect independent clauses or when something stronger than a comma is needed. But dont let this punctuation mark get you down, either. Use a semi-colon in place of the comma and conjunction to separate the two independent clauses in a compound sentence. Often thought of as the hallmark of either stuffy or academic writing (or both), many writers away from the semicolon out of fear of seeming overly formal. Colons and semicolons are two types of punctuation. For example,, Read More Adverb of Certainty (List, Examples & Worksheet)Continue, We can use while to talk about time and to talk about a repeated action. He explained oleo: Its a non-dairy butter substitute. Others avoid it altogether because they fear theyll be using the mark incorrectly. I was just thinking about getting a sandwich; do you know anywhere good? There are things that we dont want to happen but have to accept; running away from our problems never helps. The teacher, the only adult in the room, made sure we were all present before beginning her lecture. To do this in formal writing, we would first separate each item into lines of a list. It even proofreads your text, so your work is extra polished wherever you write. What does semicolon mean example? Remember, semicolons are not interchangeable with commas or periods. A semicolon is also often used before introductory expressions such as for example, that is, and namely, in place of a colon, comma, dash, or parenthesis: On one important point Harry and Mabel agreed; that is, it would be better for all if Harry found somewhere else to be while Mabel finished cooking. moreover, nevertheless, however, otherwise, therefore, then, finally, likewise, What Are Suffixes in English? Use a semi-colon before the conjunctive adverb (such as however and therefore) that joins two independent clauses. linking two independent clauses, you should use a semicolon. John finished all his homework, but Kathleen did not finish hers. Write with Grammarly. A comma is used between a dialog tag (such as "she said") and a quotation. When a comma separates two complete sentences joined by a conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, so, or yet) the comma and the conjunction can be replaced with a semicolon. A comma is used after conjunctive adverbs such as nonetheless, nevertheless, finally, similarly, moreover, and furthermore and after adverbs of manner such as happily, quietly, slowly, and noisily when they are at the beginning of a sentence. Although it is dry ; there re many trees on the hills. A semicolon isnt the only thing that can link two independent clauses. But you shouldnt use a semicolon and a conjunction. Required fields are marked *. Dont get your hopes up. Let me know your decision; we need to start making plans soon. He had heard about oleo; he didnt know what it was. A semicolon isnt the only thing that can link two independent clauses. A semicolon is used in place of a comma to separate phrases or items in a list or series when the phrases or items themselves contain commas or are especially long: Harry set out to find a dessert that would demonstrate his deep appreciation of Mabel's meal. Whereas, a comma should not come before it when it is used to begin the sentence and when it is used inside open and close parenthetical marks. Commas indicate direct quoted speech: He said, Lets go, and we did. Commas come before coordinating conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) when they link two independent clauses*: It was raining, and I was hurrying to get home. Do not capitalize ordinary words after a semicolon. Example: I have painted the Get powerful productivity and security apps with Microsoft 365, All About Semicolons: How to Use Them in Your Writing. Rule 1b. Rule 1a. I like to write; my blog is dedicated to English Grammar. (See what we did there?). In short sentences, a comma often replaces the semicolon: Mabel's cooking prowess, honed through years of complex feasts, was formidable; the interruption of its application ill-advised. While is a conjunction that means at the same time, Read More Sentences with While (119 Examples)Continue, Introducing new phrases to your written vocabulary is one of the easiest methods for improving your existing writing skills. Im an early riser; I get up at 5 am every day. Sentences With Semicolons Semicolon gives sense to the sentence without being too assertive. Semicolons are also particularly useful for simplifying sentences that contain long lists of items or complex punctuation: In this example, the semicolons make it possible to list everything that was needed from this particular shopping trip; meanwhile, they make it easy to provide further information about certain segments of the shopping list. A comma is used between a dependent clause (incomplete sentence) and an independent clause (complete sentence). Example: Linda went to The group of words that comes before the semicolon should form a complete sentence, the group of words that comes after the semicolon should form a complete sentence, and the two sentences should share a close, logical connection: I ordered a cheeseburger for lunch; lifes too short for counting calories. Sentences With Semicolons (;) 50 Examples. To correct a comma splice, a semicolon can be used. Commas follow introductory clauses and phrases: On the way home, I stopped to buy groceries. It rained heavily during the afternoon; we managed to have our picnic anyway. When writing becomes a hard skill, it will have a lot of techniques and styles that Semicolons and items in a series Semicolons are used to separate more than two items in a series when there is a comma in one or more of the items. Examples- I have two book; one is EAST OF EDEN and another one is THE SUN ALSO RISES Ram has gone to play cricket: Sam has gone to the ground. Incorrect: I am here; You are over there. I like reading; novels, plays, poems I like them all! Correction: The wedding was beautiful, and we celebrated for several hours. Your writing, at its best ", She yelled down the stairs, "wait for me!". A semicolon can join two closely related independent clauses. Finally, she was able to take a week off work to go visit her family. Because it was raining, I took a taxi home. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. While some writers may be tempted to connect these independent clauses using a comma, this is actually a common grammatical error known as a comma splice. [The comma before. semicolon. It looks like you have JavaScript turned off. A semicolon can also be replaced by a period and a capital letter. For example: I am going home; I intend to stay there. Using a comma instead of a semicolon in the sentences above would result in a comma splice. The tour itinerary includes skiing on fresh snow, mountain trekking, and a lavish meal at the local restaurant. Commas - After Introductory Transition Words, Phrases, and Clauses Commas - Surrounding (Non)-essential / (Non)-restrictive Phrases Commas - Around Interrupting In particular, you need to place a post-comma when it serves as the introductory phrase of a sentence, when youre parenthetically using She finished top of her class; she was struggling to find work. Rule 3. Correct: Although they tried, they failed. ["After I ate dinner" is not a complete sentence.]. Semicolons | The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation. Use a semicolon before such words and terms as namely, however, therefore, that is, i.e., for example, e.g., for instance, etc., when they introduce a complete sentence. Sounds pretty cunning to us. But the teacher was the greatest mind of his time; he had over a hundred ideas. I ate dinner; I went to the movies. The examples above are each made up of two complete, grammatically correct sentences glued together. A comma is used to separate items in a list. Dogs are smarter than cats, because they can do tricks; spoken language skills are better than just barking. Your email address will not be published. It helps avoid being vague and vague to encourage thought. The simple explanation of colon vs semicolon We use a semicolon to join things that are equal, similar, or the same. You can join two independent clauses together that are two separate sentences. You can also use a semicolon to separate items in a list when the items already contain commas, and to emphasize certain phrases in longer sentences. A comma before for example should be placed when it appears in series, and when it parenthetically disrupts the sentence midway or at the end. Rule: If you have only one clause (one subject and verb pair), you wont usually need a comma in front of the conjunction. Use commas for direct address, tag questions, mild interjections, and yes/no: I hate to say When you are certain about something, you use an adverb of certainty. What is a semicolon used for? She was struggling to find work. This is part of the same rule, but the conjunction in question is but instead of and. In other words: This is part of the same rule; the conjunction in question is but instead of and.. It is also preferable to use a comma after these words and terms. Such an adverb or phrase can also appear elsewhere in the second clause: Harry was an animal driven by primal need to gain immediate access to the goulash; his options for achieving that aim were, however, limited. While the colon is simply two dots stacked : the semicolon is a dot hovering over a comma ; The semicolon does jobs that are also done by Please turn up the radio; I cant hear it over the sound of the fan. Does that mean you can use it like either one? A semicolon should be followed by a capital letter only if the word is a proper noun or an acronym. The shirt had blue, green, yellow, and orange flowers on it. Correct: The conference has people who have come from Moscow, Idaho; Springfield, California; Alamo, Tennessee; and other places as well. Example Hockey is boring; this is why I prefer basketball. I like the colors; purple is my favorite color. A: The main rule for using a semicolon correctly is to connect two independent clauses without using a conjunction like and or but.. If so, then youre grammatically good to go as far as the semicolon is concerned. Note that, unlike commas and periods, a semicolon that punctuates the larger sentence is placed outside quotation marks and parentheses: For her birthday, Harry gave Mabel an apron that said "Number 1 Cook"; Mabel cordially accepted it but has yet to wear it. Using a Semicolon to Avoid a Comma Splice. Like a comma, it can separate elements in a series. She had long, dark, straight, thick hair. Dont get your hopes up. Copyright 2022 George Mason University. semicolon. A semicolon may be used between independent clauses joined by a connector, such as and, but, or, nor, etc., when one or more commas appear in the first clause. My brother is going to Spain for the summer; he will be studying Spanish. While most of our site should function with out, we recommend turning it back on for a better experience. Semicolon: Yuki is a great leader; the company has flourished under his watch. You have been successfully subscribed to the Grammarly blog. Semicolon (;) is used in English to join independent clauses. For more information about semicolons, see the following links: What does semicolon mean example? When the items in a series are long or are sentences themselves, they are usually separated by semicolons even if they lack internal commas: In the end, the meal Mabel and Harry shared was first-rate: the bread and cabbage dish complemented the goulash exquisitely; the chocolate croquembouche was divine; and the conversation was lively and amicable. = I ate dinner. I found my missing shoe, the left one, under my bed. of the ands, buts, and ors; you dont need both. A comma is used to separate two or more adjectives that modify the same noun. I need the weather statistics for the following cities: London, England; London, Ontario; Paris, France; Paris, Ontario; Perth, Scotland; Perth, Ontario. Some people write with a word processor; others write with a pen When you use a semicolon, you do not need to add that coordinating Semicolon Examples, PDF Writing is a soft skill that can lead to a hard skill through specialization. Despite its reputation though, the semicolon is a wonderfully versatile piece of punctuation that writers of all stripes can use to draw connections between their thoughtsand make their sentences easier to readin ways that other punctuation marks, like dashes, simply cant. I turned her down for the job; it was not something that I particularly wanted to do. She was raised in India and Massachusetts; she lives mostly in New York City. And theres nothing as painful as a comma splice. Lets recap: so far weve got semicolons for linking two independent clauses; replacing a conjunction (whether showing similarity, like and, or opposition, like but); and long, comma-loving lists. Choosing Between Infinitive and Gerund: To do or doing? When you have a conjunctive adverb linking two independent clauses, you should use a semicolon. Semicolons (;) are as basic as a period stacked on top of a comma. See how the semicolon is used. Harry's three favorite bakeries are in Pittsburgh, PA; Phoenix, AZ; and Walla Walla, WA. The list of collective nouns is endless but we are restricting, Read More List of 150+ Collective Nouns for Animals and BirdsContinue, Collective Nouns for People An army of soldiers An ambush of widows A band of musicians A band of men A band coyotes A banner, Read More List of 80+ Collective Nouns for PeopleContinue, Your email address will not be published. The 14 Punctuation Marks with Examples We can break down the punctuation marks into five categories, as follows: Sentence endings: period, question mark, exclamation point Comma, colon, and semicolon Dash and hyphen Brackets, braces, and parentheses Apostrophe, quotation marks, and ellipsis His spreadsheet was not helping. Here are 50 example sentences with semicolons. He said, "I'll be there in five minutes. As a matter of fact, American football was derived from rugby. These words sometimes show up in other parts of a sentence; therefore, the semicolon rule only applies if it helps the conjunctive adverb join two independent clauses. Semicolons (;) are used to join What is a semicolon example? In this case, attended the meeting is not a unit of the series and therefore is preceded only by a comma. Heres a tip: Want to make sure your writing shines? That something can either be the right conjunction or the period that turns a comma into a semicolon. A: The main rule for using a semicolon correctly is to connect two independent clauses without using a conjunction like and or but.. Semicolons help you connect closely related ideas when a style mark stronger than a comma is needed. By using semicolons effectively, you can make your writing sound more sophisticated. A semicolon is most commonly used to link (in a single sentence) two independent clauses that are closely related in thought. Definition and Examples, What Are Consonants? 2. And like a colon, it signals that what follows it is closely related to what comes before it. Semicolon: Yuki is a great leader; the company has flourished under his watch. Like commas, semicolons indicate an audible pauseslightly longer than a comma's, but short of a period's full stop. The best thing to do is to face the problem and solve it. In the first example, we use a colon to indicate that the second sentence gives an explanation as to why Yuki is a great leader. The semicolon is a good punctuation mark to have in your back pocket. But you shouldnt use a semicolon, a conjunction. The general answer is no. = The manager was having trouble keeping track of expenses. You can use a semicolon to join two closely related independent clauses. In particular, you need to place a post-comma when it serves as the introductory phrase of a sentence, when you're parenthetically using it midway, and when it comes after a semicolon. I went to the movies. While, in general, the list items are divided with commas, if the list items themselves contain a comma, then there should be separated with semicolons. A semicolon separates related independent clauses that are joined without a coordinating conjunction, such as and: Mabel the Cat had made a big pot of goulash; it was simmering on the stove. Additional Examples of Comma Splice and Corrections 1. While the colon is simply two dots stacked : the semicolon is a dot hovering over a comma ; The semicolon does jobs that are also done by other punctuation marks, but puts its own spin on the task. When a semicolon is used to join two or more ideas (parts) in a sentence, those ideas are then given equal position or rank. A semicolon can also join two statements when the second clause is missing some essential words that are supplied by the first clause. Similarly, semicolons can be used to connect independent clauses when they use a transitional phrase (e.g., as a result, for example, or in addition) or conjunctive adverbs (e.g., however, similarly, or meanwhile). Make sure when you use the semicolon that the connection between the two independent clauses is clear without the coordinating conjunction. Either he is late already or he wont come at all; a lack of punctuality is not my concern. Correction: The other team was not very good, so my brother's team won the ball game. Has Have Had use in sentences | 50 Examples, There is There are Sentences | 50 Examples, Is am are sentences in English (50 Examples), 50 Sentences of Present Perfect Continuous Tense, 50 Sentences of Past Perfect Continuous Tense, 50 Sentences of Future Perfect Continuous Tense, What are Transitive Verbs in English? Here are a few rules with examples that I hope you find very helpful. For example, this summary could say "Semicolons are useful; they show that clauses are related in meaning.". You should not use a semicolon and a conjunction. Grammarly stands with our friends, colleagues, and family in Ukraine, and with all people of Ukraine. A semicolon can replace a period if the writer wishes to narrow the gap between two closely linked sentences (independent clauses). Example: Maisy went to the carnival; she had the time of her life. My parents, who met each other in 1962, have been married for 50 years. Or on top of your parenthetical smile. On the other hand, many diets decrease stamina and strength. Reports of the damage caused by the hurricane were greatly exaggerated; indeed, the storm was not a hurricane at all. The implications of using for example Below are some of the most common ways commas and semicolons are used. Do you use a capital letter after a semicolon? Comma Splice: The dog looked everywhere for his bone, he forgot that he buried it by the tree. 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