Semicolons www.thepunctuationshow.com

What’s wrong with the following sentence? English was his favourite subject, he was very good at it. This is an example of comma splicing. The comma needs to be replaced with a semicolon. www.thepunctuationshow.com

Both parts of the sentence make sense, so we could use a full stop. ; English was his favourite subject He was very good at it. h Because the sentences are closely related, we could consider using a semicolon instead. We don’t need a capital letter for the second main clause. www.thepunctuationshow.com

I really enjoy playing football; it’s the best game in the world. A semicolon is used to join two main clauses that are closely connected. For example: I really enjoy playing football; it’s the best game in the world. Both sides of the semicolon could be short sentences. Semicolons can be used to replace conjunctions if the writer chooses. www.thepunctuationshow.com

Your turn Which sentence is comma splicing and needs a semicolon to replace the comma? Looking out through the window, I could see the children playing. I like tennis, but not squash. Helen is seven years old, she’s very tall for her age. www.thepunctuationshow.com

Helen is seven years old, she’s very tall for her age. That’s right! ; Helen is seven years old, she’s very tall for her age. Both sides of the semicolon could be main clauses and make sense on their own. www.thepunctuationshow.com

We can also use semicolons in lists where commas are already in use: Remember! We can also use semicolons in lists where commas are already in use: The teams playing came from Harrogate, North Yorkshire; Hastings, East Sussex and Ipswich, East Anglia. www.thepunctuationshow.com