Worksheet

2.3 Semicolons
Read the following tips about when to use semicolons.

Semicolons can be used instead of a full stop to separate two sentences

that are very closely linked. This means that:
• sometimes semicolons replace a conjunction (joining word)
For example: ‘I like science fiction but I don’t like romance fiction.’
could be written as: ‘I like science fiction; I don’t like romance fiction.’

• sometimes you can use semicolons before ‘however’

For example: ‘I am in favour of space exploration; however, I would
prefer we reduce the budget.’

• you can use semicolons to separate longer items in a list.

For example: ‘There are many things to do before we leave for space:
we must check the space capsule; we have to train hard to make
sure we are strong; we need to test the space suits.’

Write out the following sentences inserting either semicolons or commas,

and delete any conjunctions as necessary.

1 The Moon is 384 600 km away from Earth however sometimes it is nearer.

2 Mars has two moons but Jupiter has sixteen.

3 The International Space Station is 108.5 m long and 88.4 m wide it was built
by the USA, Russia, Europe, Canada and Japan.

4 The International Space Station will remain in orbit for 10 years and the
astronauts will do shifts of three to six months.

5 Tests on astronauts have shown that during space missions the muscles
become weakened and bones also lose calcium and the whole body can
lose weight.

6 Laboratories inside the Space Station have hooks to keep boots firmly fixed
so that scientists can keep still while conducting experiments while sleeping
bags are anchored down to the sleeping berths.

7 Tallulah wanted to become an astronaut however her parents preferred her

to become a doctor.
Exploration
Chapter 2

8 The sky is full of satellites to receive and transmit television signals to relay
data on weather conditions to observe regions of the planet for military
purposes to furnish data for study on Earth about pollution to map the stars
and to keep track of the navigation of ships and aircraft.

© HarperCollinsPublishers 2013 169