Semicolon
A semicolon (;) is a punctuation mark that resembles a period above a comma and serves several grammatical functions. Its primary use is to link two independent clauses that are closely related, allowing writers to express connections or contrasts without using conjunctions like "and" or "but." For example, in the sentence "Earth has conditions that support human life; Venus does not," the semicolon indicates a direct relationship between the two clauses. Semicolons can also serve as "super commas" to separate items in a list where those items already contain commas, enhancing clarity. Additionally, they help organize complex sentences that include multiple clauses by dividing them into more digestible parts. However, semicolons are often misused, and understanding when to choose a semicolon over a colon (:) is an important skill in writing. Overall, mastery of semicolon usage can significantly improve the clarity and effectiveness of written communication.
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Semicolon
A semicolon (;) is a punctuation mark rendered as a period above a comma. Semicolons have multiple grammatical uses. The most common and familiar involves single sentences that contain two grammatically complete clauses but do not use a conjunction such as and or but. They can also be used to more readily differentiate listed items that already use commas within their individual elements and in sentences that use many commas and require additional punctuation marks to separate major clauses. In these instances, grammarians sometimes describe semicolons as functioning like a “super comma.”
Despite having relatively few uses, semicolons are often used incorrectly. In addition to emphasizing proper use cases, educators also guide students to identify the differential conditions that require a semicolon instead of a colon (:).
Overview
The semicolon’s primary function is to create a single, unified sentence from two or more grammatically complete clauses capable of functioning as standalone sentences. In most cases, writers use semicolons to indicate close relationships or direct contrasts between the multiple clauses contained within the sentence. For example:
“Earth has conditions that support human life; Venus does not.”
The two grammatically complete clauses separated by a semicolon share direct relational features that make a full understanding of each clause dependent upon the other. This represents the classic use case of a semicolon. It lacks conjunctions that would normally be preceded by a comma. One way to test whether a semicolon has been used correctly is to remove it from the sentence and replace it with an appropriate conjunction:
“Earth has conditions that support human life, but Venus does not.”
Colons, meanwhile, are used in sentences to introduce lists or to provide additional context for or explanation of a preceding clause. In such usage, colons separate general elements from specific ones.
When used as super commas, semicolons separate listed elements that use commas themselves, as in the following example:
“Researchers tracked improvements in Utica, New York; Reading, Pennsylvania; and Augusta, Georgia.”
Semicolons may also be used to divide sentences with many commas and subordinate clauses into two or more easily understandable constituent parts. In these cases, semicolons do not necessarily need to both precede and follow grammatically complete clauses, since their primary purpose is to provide clarity for the elements within the sentence. This sample sentence uses multiple commas and subordinate clauses:
“Relations between the two countries, while never strong, have deteriorated considerably in recent years, and the international community, keen to help avert war, has mobilized all available resources, including peacekeepers, neutral observers, and diplomatic officials.”
The sentence could be rewritten using a super comma semicolon to improve its clarity and reduce confusion by dividing it into two main sections:
“Relations between the two countries, while never strong, have deteriorated considerably in recent years; and the international community, keen to help avert war, has mobilized all available resources, including peacekeepers, neutral observers, and diplomatic officials.”
Grammarians and other experts generally consider these types of super comma use cases avoidable. In almost all such instances, the clarity of the sentence could be further improved by dividing it into multiple sentences:
“Relations between the two countries, while never strong, have deteriorated considerably in recent years. The international community, keen to help avert war, has mobilized all available resources, including peacekeepers, neutral observers, and diplomatic officials.”
Bibliography
“5 Ways to Use a Semicolon, with Examples.” Grammarly, 20 June 2023, www.grammarly.com/blog/semicolon/. Accessed 13 Nov. 2023.
“The Colons and Semicolon.” Barnsley College, 1997, www.barnsley.ac.uk/app/uploads/2020/01/The-Colon-and-Semicolon.pdf. Accessed 13 Nov. 2023.
Delf, Liz. “How to Use a Semicolon (Transcript).” Oregon State University, 1 Nov. 2022, liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/wlf/how-use-semicolon-oregon-state-guide-grammar. Accessed 13 Nov. 2023.
“Semicolon.” Northern Illinois University,www.niu.edu/writingtutorial/punctuation/semicolon.shtml. Accessed 13 Nov. 2023.
“The Semicolon.” University of Sussex, 1997, www.sussex.ac.uk/informatics/punctuation/colonandsemi/semi. Accessed 13 Nov. 2023.
Straus, Jane. “Semicolons.” The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation, 2023, www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/semicolons.asp. Accessed 13 Nov. 2023.
“Using Semicolons.” Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 2023, www.iup.edu/writingcenter/writing-resources/punctuation/using-semicolons.html. Accessed 13 Nov. 2023.
“Using Semicolons.” University of Wisconsin–Madison, 2023, writing.wisc.edu/handbook/grammarpunct/semicolons/. Accessed 13 Nov. 2023.