The Semicolon
Recognize a semicolon when you see one.
The semicolon [ ; ] is a powerful mark of punctuation with three uses.
The first appropriate use of the semicolon is to connect two related sentences. The pattern looks like this:
complete sentence + ; + complete sentence.
Here is an example:
Grandma still rides her Harley motorcycle; her toy poodle balances in a basket between the handlebars.
A semicolon can also team up with a transition—often a conjunctive adverb—to connect two sentences close in meaning. The pattern looks like this:
complete sentence + ; + transition + , + complete sentence.
Check out this example:
My father does not approve of his mother cruising around town on a Harley motorcycle; however, Grandma has never cared what anyone thinks.
Finally, use the semicolon to avoid confusion when you have complicated lists of items. The pattern looks like this:
item + , + more information + ; + item + , + more information + ; + and + item + , + more information
Read the following example:
On a Harley motorcycle, my grandmother and her poodle have traveled to Anchorage, Alaska; San Francisco, California; and Tijuana, Mexico.
Keep these three things in mind when you use a semicolon:
- The two main clauses that the semicolon joins should be closely related in meaning.
- Don't capitalize the word that follows the semicolon unless that word is a proper noun, one that is always capitalized.
- Limit your use of semicolons; you should not scatter them wantonly throughout your writing. Semicolons are like glasses of champagne; save them for special occasions.