The Semicolon

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The Semicolon [;] Its main use is to combine two closely related complete sentences. Basic rule—you can use a semicolon where you would otherwise use a comma with a small conjunction. I am going home, and I intend to stay there. I am going home ; I intend to stay there. It rained heavily during the afternoon, but we managed to have our picnic anyway. It rained heavily during the afternoon ; we managed to have our picnic anyway.

The Semicolon [;] DON’T just join any two sentences together with a semicolon. You want to reserve this for special occasions--for two sentences that need to get married because they have so much in common or because opposites attract! BAD - My aunt loves to roller skate on Sundays ; I ate a bologna sandwich for lunch. SOMETHING IN COMMON - I was completely bewildered ; what she had just told me made absolutely no sense. EMPHASIZE CONTRAST - The average American woman is 5’4″ and weighs 142 pounds; the average model is 5’9″ and weighs 110 pounds.

The Semicolon [;] You can also use a semicolon when joining two complete sentences together with a transition word, such as however, moreover, therefore, consequently, otherwise, nevertheless, thus, ipso facto, etc. I instantly had a crush on him because he actually listened to me when I talked ; furthermore, I couldn’t get enough of his big, dreamy brown eyes. The barn smelled like horse manure ; however, it felt good to be out of the rain. Ryan loved panda bears ; therefore, he constantly drew them all over his class handouts.

The Semicolon [;] Using a semicolon with a transition word is especially handy for complex thesis sentences, when you’re announcing to the reader that your argument will have two different parts. 1 In the beginning of “The Littlest Hitler”, Davy’s excitement about his Halloween costume reveals his childhood innocence ; however, 2 the events of the story force him to grow up because they help him gain a more realistic understanding of the cruelty of human behavior.

The Semicolon [;] DON’T use a semicolon to offset a dependent clause or a phrase! ; Wrong – Even though I was really hungry; I let my little brother eat the rest of the pizza., Right – Even though I was really hungry, I let my little brother eat the rest of the pizza. ; Wrong – I love microwavable foods; such as Hot Pockets and Bagel Bites Mini Pizzas., Right – I love microwavable foods, such as Hot Pockets and Bagel Bites Mini Pizzas.

The items in this list already have commas in them, so separating them with commas would be confusing. The semicolon helps the reader. With a typical list, a comma works: At the store I bought carrots, chocolate, Funyuns, and a case of Dr. Pepper.

MLK - Master of the Semicolon [;] In “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” MLK uses the semicolon as a super comma to separate complex items in this list: ; ; ;,, I doubt that you would have so warmly commended the police force if you had seen its dogs sinking their teeth into unarmed, nonviolent Negroes. I doubt that you would so quickly commend the policemen if you were to observe their ugly and inhumane treatment of Negroes here in the city jail; if you were to watch them push and curse old Negro women and young Negro girls; if you were to see them slap and kick old Negro men and young boys; if you were to observe them, as they did on two occasions, refuse to give us food because we wanted to sing our grace together. I cannot join you in your praise of the Birmingham police department.