Sep 9, 2025 · Semicolons (;) separate independent clauses that are related in meaning, and they separate items in a list when those items themselves are long or include commas. For example, this …

A semicolon (;) indicates an audible pause and can replace a period if the writer wishes to narrow the gap between two closely linked sentences.

Semicolon ... The semicolon ; (or semi-colon[1]) is a symbol commonly used as orthographic punctuation. In the English language, a semicolon is most commonly used to link (in a single …

Dec 5, 2024 · A semicolon is a punctuation mark (;) used to connect closely two related independent clauses in a single sentence when discussing the same topic or contrasting two similar ideas.

Most commonly, the semicolon is used between two independent clauses (i.e., clauses that could stand alone as separate sentences) when a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) is omitted.

Do you avoid using a semicolon when writing because you aren’t sure how it should be used? Take a look at why you shouldn’t avoid it and how to add it to your writing.

Here is where the semicolon can help. The commas between items can be “bumped up” a notch and turned into semicolons, so that readers can easily tell how many items are in the list and which words …

Think of a semicolon as being like balancing scales. Both sides of the scale must be a main clause or a full sentence on their own. Don't use a semicolon instead of a comma to join a...

Using a semicolon like a comma can definitely create some trouble. First, let’s take a step back and explain the difference between an independent clause and a dependent clause.

Semicolons can be used in lists to outrank any commas that appear in list items. That's less complicated than it sounds. In a normal list, the list items are separated by commas. However, sometimes the list …