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Use of the Semicolon in
Congratulations ! This is the place that gives you all the information about when to use the semicolon, which is considered the "noblest" of English punctuation marks. Following are the rules for proper semicolon usage in English writing. For accurate proofreading of semicolon usage and other punctuation or grammar rules, the artificial intelligence of the WhiteSmoke online English writing and grammar software will always give you perfect results. Even the best writers need an English editor in order to have their work shine.
Enjoy your reading and start using those commas correctly.
Getting into the Semicolon
Passengers on the flight to Singapore could choose between either a dinner of roast duck served with stir-fry vegetables and rice ,which could also be replaced by a baked potato with a cream-based sauce ; or a lighter dinner of a Chinese chicken-corn soup followed by a new version of Caesar Salad , invented by the air-liner's top chef ; or a small snack comprising of a cheese sandwich and chips .
The above sentence looks like a long list of food items served on a flight. Such a long sentence should preferably be divided into 2-3 separate sentences using periods. However, as one can observe three optional meals served on the same flight, all the information is still closely linked together in meaning. In order to know exactly which dishes go with which in each meal, commas alone would be insufficient. The use of semicolons to separate items which themselves contain sub-items helps the reader to better comprehend the text.
The semicolon (;) is a punctuation mark in English separating elements but used much less than the comma. It is more often used in more advanced extended sentences and adds a formal tone. Its name implies that it indicates a separation that is neither full (as indicated by the period), nor minute (as indicated by a comma). The semicolon denotes a half-way separation between elements close in meaning. Skilled writers know that they should not overuse the semicolon but merely use for "spicing up" the text's punctuation, as explained in the following sections. Do not simply use the semicolon instead of a comma in order to make the text appear "fancy."
The two main uses of the semicolon are:
1. Separating elements (when a comma is insufficient or unclear)
2. Linking elements (without a conjunction or sentence separation)
In addition, the following section is also important to consider.
3. Semicolon Style Conventions
Right or Wrong ?
Dan has decided to be a vegetarian, therefore, he chose the vegetable dish on the flight to India.
Wrong ! The above two independent clauses are related to one another in a cause-effect relationship, marked by the conjunctive adverb therefore. A period may create too much of a division between the too related clauses. Using a comma may result in a comma splice error. The solution is to use a semicolon ending the first independent clause and a comma after the conjunctive adverb, as in:
Dan has decided to be a vegetarian; therefore, he chose the vegetable dish on the flight to India.
If you want to know more, read the punctuation rules for separating elements below.
1. Use a semicolon between two independent clauses linked by either a conjunctive adverb or a transitional expression ( in addition, for example, on the one hand, nevertheless, in other words, namely, meanwhile, in fact) when it comes in the middle of a sentence, between the clauses. Put a semicolon before the linking expression and a comma after it, as it serves as an introductory element to the second independent clause.
Dan thought the flight food was delicious; in fact, he asked the flight attendant for some recipes.
The flight was delayed due to the workers' strike; consequently, we had to change our holiday plans.
The flight did not include any meals; however, the price was conveniently low.
Note: Using a comma with a synonymous coordinating conjunction on this last example sentence would not change the sentence meaning except for allowing it to seem less formal than with the semicolon and conjunctive adverb. Remember to be consistent with your punctuation style as it influences the text's tone (formal or informal).
Formal: The flight did not include any meals; however, the price was conveniently low.
Informal: The flight did not include any meals, but the price was conveniently low.
*Watch Out !
2. Do not put a comma between two independent clauses linked by a conjunctive adverb/ transitional expression, as this leads to the comma splice error. Remember, you separate two independent clauses with a comma, only when they are separated by a coordinating conjunction ( and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet).
Dan thought the flight food was delicious, and he asked the flight attendant for some recipes.
3. You can use a semicolon before coordinating conjunctions or before any elements (not necessarily introduced by coordinating conjunctions) when these are either long or contain commas or other punctuation marks within them.
Staff on this multinational airliner may come from such European countries as France, The Czech Republic, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Germany etc.; or they may come from Asian countries such as Singapore, Korea or The Philippines; or they may come from Latin American countries such as Brazil, Argentina and Peru.
4. These elements can number more than two, thus creating a list of elements. The semicolon is needed to distinguish between the usually long elements, which can be phrases or clauses.
(See example in "Getting into it" on this page.)
5. Even when elements are not long or do not have inner punctuation marks, use semicolons when commas alone may make the sentence hard to understand, or in cases where you feel that a comma would not be strong enough. In the following example, the reader may get confused as to which group checks in with which. A, B, C ,and D may be falsely perceived as a series. Using a semicolon clarifies the various group pairings.
Confusing:
For this flight, group A checks in with B, C and D check in with E, and F checks in with G.
Clear:
For this flight, group A checks in with B; C and D check in with E; and F checks in with G.
Check this out !
The Smiths went up north for their vacation; the Johnsons went down south for theirs.
Analysis ! The above sentence is composed of two independent clauses which could normally be separated with a comma and coordinating conjunction. However, using a semicolon to link the clauses together without a conjunction is an elegant lighter alternative.
If you want to know more, read the punctuation rules for linking elements below.
1. When two independent clauses are relatively short and the relationship between them (contrast, addition, cause, effect etc) can be inferred without the coordinating conjunction, some writers find it more sophisticated to omit the coordinating conjunction and replace the comma with a semicolon. Not over-stressing the logical relationships and letting the reader infer them more subtly is a stylistic technique that advanced writers sometimes use. However, remember that the semicolon should be used sparingly, for any of its uses mentioned here.
Standard:
1. The Smiths went up north for their vacation, whereas the Johnsons went down south for theirs. [contrast]
2. David went to Paris for his honeymoon, for it has always been his dream. [cause]
Sophisticated:
1. The Smiths went up north for their vacation; the Johnsons went down south for theirs. [contrast]
2. David went to Paris for his honeymoon; it has always been his dream. [cause]
2. You should not use the semicolon to link between independent clauses if the relationship between them may not be easily inferred. In such cases, leave the comma followed by the appropriate coordinating conjunction.
I can only have a short vacation; I will be one week off work.
[relationship not clear]
1. I can only have a short vacation, but I will be one week off work.[contrast]
2. I can only have a short vacation, so I will be one week off work. [result]
3. I can only have a short vacation, as I will be one week off work. [reason]
Analysis: The contrast in sentence 1 denotes that a week is not considered too short a vacation. The result in sentence 2 denotes that one week is indeed short and is the result of being able to take only a short reason, maybe for financial constraints. The reason in sentence 3 denotes that the unfortunately short vacation is due to probable work schedule constraints.
3. Consider using a semicolon to unite two independent clauses, which are on the one hand, self standing sentences; and on the other hand, two halves of one whole. This allows a smoother transition that let the text flow, instead of creating "borders" with commas and connectors.
The food I had on the flight to London was terrible; the food I had on the flight to Paris was excellent.
1. Do not use a capital letter after a semicolon, unless it is followed by a proper noun.
2. The semicolon and the colon are the only two punctuation marks which should be placed after closing quotation marked when they follow a quoted text.
3. When a semicolon appears after an italicized text, italicize it as well.
4. You can leave either one or two spaces after a semicolon. Remember to be consistent.
As our brief article shows, the illustrious semicolon has a somewhat particular range of punctuation uses and is usually associated with more advanced, polished writing. A good understanding of semicolon usage elevates your writing style and betters the impression readers get. While we cannot all be expected to know the rules of English grammar and punctuation, tools like the WhiteSmoke English Writing Software can ensure that our use of the semicolon and other punctuation marks is always correct. With WhiteSmoke technology checking your grammar, punctuation and spelling, your writing will always be perfect.
Go to the English Lessons Portal for more English Lessons
Use of the Semicolon in
English Punctuation (;)
If you use the semiocolon, your writing is far from being common...
Congratulations ! This is the place that gives you all the information about when to use the semicolon, which is considered the "noblest" of English punctuation marks. Following are the rules for proper semicolon usage in English writing. For accurate proofreading of semicolon usage and other punctuation or grammar rules, the artificial intelligence of the WhiteSmoke online English writing and grammar software will always give you perfect results. Even the best writers need an English editor in order to have their work shine.
Enjoy your reading and start using those commas correctly.
Getting into the Semicolon
Passengers on the flight to Singapore could choose between either a dinner of roast duck served with stir-fry vegetables and rice ,which could also be replaced by a baked potato with a cream-based sauce ; or a lighter dinner of a Chinese chicken-corn soup followed by a new version of Caesar Salad , invented by the air-liner's top chef ; or a small snack comprising of a cheese sandwich and chips .
The above sentence looks like a long list of food items served on a flight. Such a long sentence should preferably be divided into 2-3 separate sentences using periods. However, as one can observe three optional meals served on the same flight, all the information is still closely linked together in meaning. In order to know exactly which dishes go with which in each meal, commas alone would be insufficient. The use of semicolons to separate items which themselves contain sub-items helps the reader to better comprehend the text.
What is the Semicolon ?
The semicolon (;) is a punctuation mark in English separating elements but used much less than the comma. It is more often used in more advanced extended sentences and adds a formal tone. Its name implies that it indicates a separation that is neither full (as indicated by the period), nor minute (as indicated by a comma). The semicolon denotes a half-way separation between elements close in meaning. Skilled writers know that they should not overuse the semicolon but merely use for "spicing up" the text's punctuation, as explained in the following sections. Do not simply use the semicolon instead of a comma in order to make the text appear "fancy."
The two main uses of the semicolon are:
1. Separating elements (when a comma is insufficient or unclear)
2. Linking elements (without a conjunction or sentence separation)
In addition, the following section is also important to consider.
3. Semicolon Style Conventions
Uses of the Semicolon in English Writing
1. Separating Elements in Sentences
(When a comma is insufficient or unclear)
Right or Wrong ?
Dan has decided to be a vegetarian, therefore, he chose the vegetable dish on the flight to India.
Wrong ! The above two independent clauses are related to one another in a cause-effect relationship, marked by the conjunctive adverb therefore. A period may create too much of a division between the too related clauses. Using a comma may result in a comma splice error. The solution is to use a semicolon ending the first independent clause and a comma after the conjunctive adverb, as in:
Dan has decided to be a vegetarian; therefore, he chose the vegetable dish on the flight to India.
If you want to know more, read the punctuation rules for separating elements below.
The Punctuation Rules for Separating Elements in a Sentence Using a Semicolon:
1. Use a semicolon between two independent clauses linked by either a conjunctive adverb or a transitional expression ( in addition, for example, on the one hand, nevertheless, in other words, namely, meanwhile, in fact) when it comes in the middle of a sentence, between the clauses. Put a semicolon before the linking expression and a comma after it, as it serves as an introductory element to the second independent clause.
Dan thought the flight food was delicious; in fact, he asked the flight attendant for some recipes.
The flight was delayed due to the workers' strike; consequently, we had to change our holiday plans.
The flight did not include any meals; however, the price was conveniently low.
Note: Using a comma with a synonymous coordinating conjunction on this last example sentence would not change the sentence meaning except for allowing it to seem less formal than with the semicolon and conjunctive adverb. Remember to be consistent with your punctuation style as it influences the text's tone (formal or informal).
Formal: The flight did not include any meals; however, the price was conveniently low.
Informal: The flight did not include any meals, but the price was conveniently low.
*Watch Out !
2. Do not put a comma between two independent clauses linked by a conjunctive adverb/ transitional expression, as this leads to the comma splice error. Remember, you separate two independent clauses with a comma, only when they are separated by a coordinating conjunction ( and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet).
Dan thought the flight food was delicious, and he asked the flight attendant for some recipes.
3. You can use a semicolon before coordinating conjunctions or before any elements (not necessarily introduced by coordinating conjunctions) when these are either long or contain commas or other punctuation marks within them.
Staff on this multinational airliner may come from such European countries as France, The Czech Republic, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Germany etc.; or they may come from Asian countries such as Singapore, Korea or The Philippines; or they may come from Latin American countries such as Brazil, Argentina and Peru.
4. These elements can number more than two, thus creating a list of elements. The semicolon is needed to distinguish between the usually long elements, which can be phrases or clauses.
(See example in "Getting into it" on this page.)
5. Even when elements are not long or do not have inner punctuation marks, use semicolons when commas alone may make the sentence hard to understand, or in cases where you feel that a comma would not be strong enough. In the following example, the reader may get confused as to which group checks in with which. A, B, C ,and D may be falsely perceived as a series. Using a semicolon clarifies the various group pairings.
Confusing:
For this flight, group A checks in with B, C and D check in with E, and F checks in with G.
Clear:
For this flight, group A checks in with B; C and D check in with E; and F checks in with G.
2. Linking Elements
(Without a conjunction or sentence separation)
Check this out !
The Smiths went up north for their vacation; the Johnsons went down south for theirs.
Analysis ! The above sentence is composed of two independent clauses which could normally be separated with a comma and coordinating conjunction. However, using a semicolon to link the clauses together without a conjunction is an elegant lighter alternative.
If you want to know more, read the punctuation rules for linking elements below.
The Punctuation Rules for Linking Elements Using a Semicolon
1. When two independent clauses are relatively short and the relationship between them (contrast, addition, cause, effect etc) can be inferred without the coordinating conjunction, some writers find it more sophisticated to omit the coordinating conjunction and replace the comma with a semicolon. Not over-stressing the logical relationships and letting the reader infer them more subtly is a stylistic technique that advanced writers sometimes use. However, remember that the semicolon should be used sparingly, for any of its uses mentioned here.
Standard:
1. The Smiths went up north for their vacation, whereas the Johnsons went down south for theirs. [contrast]
2. David went to Paris for his honeymoon, for it has always been his dream. [cause]
Sophisticated:
1. The Smiths went up north for their vacation; the Johnsons went down south for theirs. [contrast]
2. David went to Paris for his honeymoon; it has always been his dream. [cause]
2. You should not use the semicolon to link between independent clauses if the relationship between them may not be easily inferred. In such cases, leave the comma followed by the appropriate coordinating conjunction.
I can only have a short vacation; I will be one week off work.
[relationship not clear]
1. I can only have a short vacation, but I will be one week off work.[contrast]
2. I can only have a short vacation, so I will be one week off work. [result]
3. I can only have a short vacation, as I will be one week off work. [reason]
Analysis: The contrast in sentence 1 denotes that a week is not considered too short a vacation. The result in sentence 2 denotes that one week is indeed short and is the result of being able to take only a short reason, maybe for financial constraints. The reason in sentence 3 denotes that the unfortunately short vacation is due to probable work schedule constraints.
3. Consider using a semicolon to unite two independent clauses, which are on the one hand, self standing sentences; and on the other hand, two halves of one whole. This allows a smoother transition that let the text flow, instead of creating "borders" with commas and connectors.
The food I had on the flight to London was terrible; the food I had on the flight to Paris was excellent.
3. Semicolon Style Conventions
1. Do not use a capital letter after a semicolon, unless it is followed by a proper noun.
2. The semicolon and the colon are the only two punctuation marks which should be placed after closing quotation marked when they follow a quoted text.
3. When a semicolon appears after an italicized text, italicize it as well.
4. You can leave either one or two spaces after a semicolon. Remember to be consistent.
The Semicolon: Summing it up
As our brief article shows, the illustrious semicolon has a somewhat particular range of punctuation uses and is usually associated with more advanced, polished writing. A good understanding of semicolon usage elevates your writing style and betters the impression readers get. While we cannot all be expected to know the rules of English grammar and punctuation, tools like the WhiteSmoke English Writing Software can ensure that our use of the semicolon and other punctuation marks is always correct. With WhiteSmoke technology checking your grammar, punctuation and spelling, your writing will always be perfect.
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