Our Friend, the Semicolon
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Our Friend, the Semicolon
Let’s begin with a simple sentence:
Grandma stays up too late.
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Our Friend, the Semicolon
Now let’s expand on that a bit:
Grandma stays up too late. She’s afraid she’s going
to miss something.
This is OK. Two independent ideas,
separated by a period.
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Our Friend, the Semicolon
What if we try to combine the two ideas?
Grandma stays up too late, she’s afraid she’s going
to miss something.
Something’s wrong. We connected two independent clauses
with only a comma. The dreaded COMMA SPLICE!
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Our Friend, the Semicolon
We could insert a coordinating conjunction:
Grandma is afraid she’ll miss something, so she
stays up too late.
This is better! Note the comma that accompanies
the coordinating conjunction.
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Our Friend, the Semicolon
We could also try subordinating one of these ideas:
Grandma stays up too late because she’s afraid
she’s going to miss something.
Notice that the comma disappeared. One idea (the
second one) now depends on the other; it has
become a dependent clause.
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Our Friend, the Semicolon
But let’s try something else.
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Our Friend, the Semicolon
Let’s try using a semicolon in this sentence.
;
Grandma stays up too late she’s afraid she’s going
to miss something.
Notice there is no conjunction used with this
semicolon – either subordinating or coordinating.
Just the semicolon, all by itself.
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Definition:
• A period can almost always replace a semi-colon
in joining two independent clauses. However, a
period declares a full stop between two
sentences, while a semicolon suggests a slowing
down, a pause.
• A semicolon signals to readers that the two
sentences on either side of the semicolon are
closely related in thought.
• Use semicolon when you need punctuation
stronger than a comma, but weaker than a period.
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Our Friend, the Semicolon
Sometimes semicolons are accompanied by
conjunctive adverbs – words such as however,
moreover, therefore, nevertheless, consequently,
as a result.
Grandma is afraid she’s going to miss something;
as a result, she stays up too late.
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Our Friend, the Semicolon
Notice the pattern: When conjunctive adverbs-
however, moreover, therefore, and so on- come
between two independent clauses, a semicolon
precedes it and a comma follows.
; as a result,
semicolon + conjunctive adverb + comma
This is a typical construction with semicolons.
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Conjunctive Adverbs & transitions-
• Independent clauses can be joined by conjunctive
adverbs such as however, therefore, nevertheless,
moreover, and consequently.
• Transitional expressions such as indeed, in fact, at any
rate, for example, as a result, and on the other hand,
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Semicolons - Rules
• Rule- Use a semicolon to connect independent clauses
without a Coordinating conjunction.
• Rule- Use a semicolon to connect independent clauses
that are joined by a conjunctive adverb or by an
explanatory expression.
• Rule- Use a semicolon to clarify and separate
independent clauses that have several commas within
them, even when a coordinating conjunction is used.
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Where to use semicolon:
• To highlight the contrast between independent
clauses-
Ex. Members of the zoning board appreciated the
developer’s argument; however, they rejected her
rezoning request.
• To link related independent clauses-
Ex. The film’s prerelease publicity had been enormous; as a
result, opening-day crowds broke all records.
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More Examples:
• Queen Victoria chairs have straight legs; Queen Anne
chairs have curved legs.
• Give Matthew the book; it belongs to him.
• The main characters are Walter, a talented but
unrecognized young artist; Pamela, a dedicated art
student; Will, a famous art critic; and Harriet, a patron of
arts. {four characters}
• Bob Hope’s films include Road to Morocco, which also
features Bing Crosby and Dorothy; The Preface, a comic
western with Jane Russell; and The Seven Little Foys, a
biography about Eddie Foy, Sr.
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Our Friend, the Semicolon
There is one other use of the semicolon: to help us
sort out monster lists,
lists like this one:
The committee included Peter Wursthorn, Professor of
Mathematics, from Marlborough, Connecticut, Virginia
Villa, Professor of English, from Hartford, Connecticut, Paul
Creech, Director of Rad-Tech, from Essex, Connecticut, and
Joan Leach, Professor of Nursing, from Farmington,
Connecticut.
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Our Friend, the Semicolon
Be careful where you insert semicolons in this
sentence.
The committee included Peter Wursthorn, Professor of
Mathematics, from Marlborough, Connecticut; Virginia
Villa, Professor of English, from Hartford, Connecticut ; Paul
Creech, Director of Rad-Tech, from Essex, Connecticut ; and
Joan Leach, Professor of Nursing, from Farmington,
Connecticut.
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Our Friend, the Semicolon
Now you know everything you’ll ever need to know
about using semicolons!
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This PowerPoint presentation was created by
Charles Darling, PhD
Professor of English and Webmaster
Capital Community College
Hartford, Connecticut
copyright November 1999
© Capital Community College
