Semicolons

Semicolons are used to link related clauses and to separate clauses that contain additional punctuation.

Learning Objective

Identify sentences which require semicolons

Key Points

Semicolons indicate pauses within a sentence; they do not ever end sentences.
Semicolons can be used to link related items in a series containing internal punctuation.
Semicolons can be used to link closely related independent clauses that are not joined with a coordinating conjunction.
Semicolons can be used to link independent clauses linked with a transitional phrase.

Terms

independent clause
A group of words that can stand alone syntactically as a complete sentence—that contains at least a subject and a verb.
coordinating conjunction
A word that joins two grammatical elements of the same status or construction.

Full Text

Semicolons, like colons and commas, indicate pauses within a sentence to show relationships between words and clauses. Semicolons are used in the listing of items, but unlike colons, they cannot introduce the list. Rather, they separate items or phrases within a list. Semicolons also link clauses of equal importance, but unlike commas, do not always require a coordinating conjunction.

Linking Independent Clauses

Semicolons can join closely related independent clauses that are not linked with a coordinating conjunction:

Example: I went to the basketball court; I was told it was closed for cleaning.
Example: I told Kate she's running for the hills; I wonder if she knew I was joking.
Example: At the mall I bought four things; my sister bought only two things.

Remember, even though you can join two complete sentences with a semicolon, you should only do it if they have some sort of particular relationship to one another.

Independent Clauses Linked with Transitional Phrases

Semicolons can also be used between independent clauses linked with a transitional phrase or a conjunctive adverb. This is a less common usage, and is mostly confined to academic texts.

Example: Everyone knows he is guilty of committing the crime; of course, it will never be proven.
Example: Of these patients, 6 were not enrolled; thus, the cohort was composed of 141 patients at baseline.

Listing Items in a Series

Semicolons are used between items in a list or series when those items themselves contain internal punctuation.

Example: The people present were Jamie, who came from New Zealand; John, the milkman's son; and George, a gaunt kind of man.
Example: Several fast-food restaurants can be found within the following cities: London, England; Paris, France; Dublin, Ireland; Madrid, Spain.
Example: Here are three examples of familiar sequences: one, two, and three; a, b, and c; first, second, and third.
Example: She stood at the edge, deciding her course of action; changed her mind and walked home.

"How to use a semicolon," by The Oatmeal

For a hilarious (and well-written) cartoon guide to using semicolons, check out The Oatmeal!

Formatting with Semicolons

Capitalization

Semicolons are followed by a lowercase letter, unless that letter is the first letter of a proper noun like "I" or "Paris." In some style guides, such as APA, however, the first word of the joined independent clause should be capitalized.

Spacing

Modern style guides recommend no space before semicolons and one space after. Modern style guides also typically recommend placing semicolons outside of ending quotation marks—although this was not always the case. For example, the first edition of the Chicago Manual of Style (1906) recommended placing the semicolon inside ending quotation marks.

[ edit ]

Prev Concept

Colons

Apostrophes

Next Concept