Whether you’re trying to write a comprehensive, informative article or completing a great work of narrative fiction, using a semicolon is an essential part of the process. But if you don’t have much prior experience, you might wonder what a semicolon is. How do you use it? What does it look like? All of these questions are important, and we’ll explore them in this article.
What is the purpose of a semicolon in writing?
Semicolons serve as a mechanism to connect two independent clauses. You might think, “Hey! Can’t I use a conjunction for that?” You’re right, but semicolons allow you to join the clauses without using “and” or “but”. Here’s an example:
He ate dinner; then he went to play football.
What does the semicolon punctuation symbol look like?
The semicolon punctuation symbol looks like a period on top of a comma like this ( ; ).
Where is the semicolon punctuation mark on the American keyboard?
You can find the semicolon punctuation mark between the L and apostrophe keys. Tapping it without holding down SHIFT will create a semicolon, whereas pressing it while holding down SHIFT will create a regular colon.
When Is It Appropriate to Use a Semicolon?
Generally speaking, it’s appropriate to use semicolons whenever you’re attempting to join two independent clauses without using a conjunction. They can help make your sentences clearer and more coherent which enhances readability.
Semicolon vs. Colon: How Do You Decide?
It’s easy to get semicolons and colons mixed up because they look so similar. However, you can’t use them interchangeably. Colons can precede lists, examples, quotations, or in other words, independent clauses. Semicolons, on the other hand, join independent clauses together. This is an important distinction, so you should keep it in mind while you’re writing.
How Does the Use of a Semicolon Affect Sentence Punctuation?
Since a semicolon essentially replaces conjunctions in a sentence with two or more independent clauses, any punctuation you’d use around said conjunctions should no longer exist. This means no commas or periods around the semicolon. In a way, semicolons replace periods as well, so adding a period before or after them isn’t all the necessary and it can actually be an example of poor punctuation.
How does the semicolon function differently from a comma or a period?
Semicolons serve a similar purpose to commas and periods in that they can join clauses, which is similar to commas, and provide a soft separation between clauses as opposed to the hard separation of periods. However, semicolons, commas, and periods aren’t interchangeable. You can’t use semicolons instead of a period and vice versa, and the same goes for commas. It depends on the context. If you have two independent clauses in a sentence that you want to connect, a semicolon may very well be the best option for you.
Should semicolons be used differently when writing in Chicago, APA, and MLA style guides?
If you need to consult one of these style guides, there’s some good news. They have practically the same rules and regulations surrounding using semicolons!
Is it ever appropriate to use a semicolon before conjunctions such as “and,” “but,” or “or”?
As we’ve said previously, semicolons serve as a replacement for conjunctions such as “and”, “but”, “or”, and what have you. As a result, you shouldn’t place them before or after these conjunctions. It’s an either-or scenario; either you use conjunctions or you don’t!
Can a Semicolon Link Independent Clauses That Are Thematically Related?
If you need to connect thematically related independent clauses, you can use a semicolon. But with that said, you might want to consider using a transitional word like “however”, “next”, and “therefore”. If the independent clauses are already joined by a conjunction, avoid using this punctuation mark.
What Are Common Misuses of the Semicolon?
Common misuses of this punctuation mark include confusing it with a colon, which means using it to introduce an independent clause rather than connect it with a previous one. Many new writers also make the mistake of using it between two weak clauses. If your clauses can’t serve as distinct, independent sentences, using semicolons is inappropriate.
How to Check if a Semicolon Has Been Used Correctly in a Sentence?
It’s important to proofread your text to make sure you use all punctuation correctly. Alternatively, you can use our free punctuation corrector tool to help automate the process. This can help prevent the ever-looming specter of human error from rearing its head!
What tool can assist in verifying the correct usage of semicolons in text?
If you need to double-check your semicolon usage, Grammarlookup is the best tool for you. Our tool can quickly go through your text and point out any incorrect punctuation, as well as draw your attention to poor phrasing, bad grammar, and typos. Just paste your text in the given field and let our tool handle the rest.