When do i put a semicolon

It's a good idea to follow me on Twitter or Facebook or sign up for my free grammar tip e-mail newsletter. I'm grammargirl on Twitter and my Facebook page is facebook. Common Coordinating Conjunctions Common Conjunctive Adverbs Common Transitional Phrases Use these with commas to join main clauses Use these with semicolons to join main clauses Use these with semicolons to join main clauses and accordingly after all but again as a matter of fact nor also as a result or besides at any rate so consequently at the same time yet finally even so for furthermore for example hence for instance however in addition incidentally in conclusion indeed in fact likewise in other words moreover in the first place namely in the meantime nevertheless of course nonetheless on the contrary otherwise on the other hand similarly still that is then therefore thus More Semicolon-Related Reading France Debates the Future of the Semicolon April 4, Celebrating the Semicolon in a Most Unlikely Location February 18, Has Modern Life Killed the Semicolon June 20, And Now He's Dead: Semicolon; Punctuation Mark April 7, The End of the Line?

Her popular LinkedIn Learning courses help people write better to communicate better. Jump to Navigation. How to Use Semicolons. A memory trick and chart will help you remember how to use semicolons. By Mignon Fogarty Grammar Girl. September 11, Here's an example:. The End of the Line? April 7, About the Author. 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. That something can either be the right conjunction or the period that turns a comma into a semicolon. If semicolons can link independent clauses that would otherwise have a period or a conjunction between them, that means they can demonstrate contrast, too.

To summarize, a semicolon links up two related ideas by narrowing the gap between the ideas of two separate sentences or by replacing a conjunction between two related ideas. You can use semicolons to divide the items of a list if the items are long or contain internal punctuation. In these cases, the semicolon helps readers keep track of the divisions between the items.

My plan included taking him to a nice—though not necessarily expensive—dinner; going to the park to look at the stars, which, by the way, are amazing this time of year; and serenading him with my accordion.

Yup, that was one now. 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.

Donning his hat, he walked through the doorway; he would never see Tommy again. He would never see Tommy again; donning his hat, he walked through the doorway. Avoiding the Incorrect Use of a Semicolon The trick for using a semicolon correctly is simple: there must be standalone sentences on either side of the semicolon punctuation mark.