| The semicolon is a cross between a period and a comma. It is sometimes used in place of a period; other times, it serves the same function as a comma.
RULES FOR SEMICOLON USAGE
- Semicolon between main clauses
Use a semi-colon between two main clauses if they are not separated by and, or, but, nor, for, yet, so, etc.
Example: The rain stopped; the sun came out again.
- Use a semicolon between two main clauses with conjunctions (e.g. and, or) if a comma is used in at least one of the main clauses.
Example: Jack had to put lot of his problems aside; and not even his best friend, John, could help him.
- Use a semicolon between two main clauses if the second one starts with an adverb that has to be enclosed in commas (e.g. however, in fact, therefore, nevertheless, moreover, furthermore, still, instead, for example, besides).
Example: He didn't feel well; in fact, he had a very high temperature.
- Semicolon with enumerations:
Use a semicolon in enumerations if a comma is already used to further separate an item of the sequence.
Example: We have business partners in Kansas City, Kansas; Denver, Colorado; Columbus, Ohio; and Atlanta, Georgia.
Directions: Write two examples for each of the semicolon usage rules described above. In the following questions, select if the sentences are punctuated correctly or incorrectly. As a homework, read a book and find and write at least three sentences containing semicolon.
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