A semicolon is a punctuation mark (;) that indicates a pause in a sentence. The pause is more pronounced than one indicated by a comma. Semicolons should be used between two independent clauses.
1. I drove to the store.
2. I called my mom yesterday to say happy birthday!
3. I felt sick and did not go to class.
1. Because I was hungry
2. As she grew some more
3. Because it was cold
1. The Oatmeal has an easy to understand info graphic that goes into detail on how and when to use semicolons.
2. Matt Cowan is a writer who struggled with using semicolons but now is educating his readers on how to use them in this article.
3. This handout from the Writing Center of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill teaches the correct way to combine two sentences using a semicolon.
4. The Write Life lists 4 different ways to use a semicolon and provides different scenarios where a semicolon is used.
Incorrect: Let's go to the library to study; so I can concentrate.
Correct: Let's go to the library to study; it is the only place where I can study.
Explanation: In the first sentence, the second clause after the semicolon is not an independent clause. The second sentence contains two independent clauses separated by a semicolon.
Incorrect: I could not start my car: because the battery had died.
Correct: I could not start my car; the battery had died.
Explanation: In order to use a semicolon both clauses must be independent. In the first sentence, the second clause is dependent.
Incorrect: Calling her tomorrow; because I need an answer.
Correct: I will call her tomorrow; she can give me an answer then.
Explanation: In the first sentence both clauses are dependent. In the second sentence both clauses are independent clauses so we can use a semicolon.
Michelle Boaventura, Framingham State U, Class of 2022
Rana Hamssa, Framingham State U, Class of 2023
Jack Brodette, Framingham State U, Class of 2023
James McColley, Framingham State U, Class of 2022
Cowan, Matt. “How (and How Not) to Use Semicolons.” Medium, The Writing Cooperative, 19 Aug. 2019, writingcooperative.com/how-and-how-not-to-use-semicolons-3d071889b664.
Inman, Matthew. “How to Use a Semicolon.” The Oatmeal, 2019, theoatmeal.com/comics/semicolon.
“Semicolons, Colons, and Dashes.” The Writing Center University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/semi-colons-colons-and-dashes. Assessed 11 March 2020.
Cattanch, Jamie. "When to Use a Semicolon: A Guide to This Quirky But Lovable Punctuation Mark" The Write Life, 26 Sept. 2019, thewritelife.com/when-to-use-a-semicolon/.
