The Semicolon (;)
The Basics
[1] Semicolons can (and frequently should) be used in place of commas to clarify lists of items that contain internal commas
I was met at the door by Tom, the mayor; Mabel, a gruff septuagenarian; and Clara, her gruff but honest friend.
Beyond the Basics
[2] Semicolons can be used between closely related independent clauses that are not linked by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, etc.)
Yesterday, he couldn't tie his own shoe; today, he's a brain surgeon.
It was more circus than farm: the cows were red and blue; the chickens sang show tunes; the donkey danced.
[3] A semicolon can be used to emphasise a contrast
The summer was too hot; the winter was too cold.
By day, I file legal documents; at night, I dance on a bar.
[4] When a conjunctive adverb is used to transition between independent clauses, a semicolon introduces the conjunctive adverb
I thought I could clear the ditch; however, when I tried, I fell far short.
Syntax
Usage 2 and 3: [Independent clause]; [Independent clause]
Usage 4: [Independent clause] ; [Conjunctive adverb] , [Independent clause]
Note: No spaces before a semicolon, a single space after.
Do not capitalize the second independent clause.
Usage Key
The semicolon should be used when the independent clauses combine to convey a single thought.
Birds sang overhead; a fresh breeze rustled the willows; rabbits nibbled fresh shoots
(The complete thought is an image of a spring day.)
Misuse
Some editors bristle when they see a semicolon in dialogue. I personally don't consider this a misuse (and many published authors seem to agree with
me). But, play it safe and don't use one in dialogue without good reason.
Let's Talk Style
A semicolon balances two equally weighted elements (independent clauses).
(Semicolon) Kevin is a good driver; he's never been in an accident. (Emphasizes the two clauses equally)
(Colon) Kevin is a good driver: he's never been in an accident. (Emphasizes the fact that he's never been in an accident)
(Period) Kevin is a good student. He's never been in an accident. (No emphasis)
Let's see how the pros use it
She had eyes of a sapphire hue, though rather darker than the gem ordinarily appears; they possessed the affectionate and liquid sparkle of loyalty and
good faith as distinguishable from that harder brightness which seems to express faithfulness only to the object confronting them.
--Thomas Hardy, Desperate Remedies.
But Buck was neither house-dog nor kennel-dog. The whole realm was his. He plunged into the swimming tank or went hunting with
the Judge's sons; he escorted Mollie and Alice, the Judge's daughters, on long twilight or early morning rambles; on wintry
nights he lay at the Judge's feet before the roaring library fire; he carried the Judge's grandsons on his back, or rolled them in
the grass, and guarded their footsteps through wild adventures down to the fountain in the stable yard, and even beyond, where
the paddocks were, and the berry patches.
--Jack London, The Call of the Wild
[1] Semicolons can (and frequently should) be used in place of commas to clarify lists of items that contain internal commas
I was met at the door by Tom, the mayor; Mabel, a gruff septuagenarian; and Clara, her gruff but honest friend.
Beyond the Basics
[2] Semicolons can be used between closely related independent clauses that are not linked by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, etc.)
Yesterday, he couldn't tie his own shoe; today, he's a brain surgeon.
It was more circus than farm: the cows were red and blue; the chickens sang show tunes; the donkey danced.
[3] A semicolon can be used to emphasise a contrast
The summer was too hot; the winter was too cold.
By day, I file legal documents; at night, I dance on a bar.
[4] When a conjunctive adverb is used to transition between independent clauses, a semicolon introduces the conjunctive adverb
I thought I could clear the ditch; however, when I tried, I fell far short.
Syntax
Usage 2 and 3: [Independent clause]; [Independent clause]
Usage 4: [Independent clause] ; [Conjunctive adverb] , [Independent clause]
Note: No spaces before a semicolon, a single space after.
Do not capitalize the second independent clause.
Usage Key
The semicolon should be used when the independent clauses combine to convey a single thought.
Birds sang overhead; a fresh breeze rustled the willows; rabbits nibbled fresh shoots
(The complete thought is an image of a spring day.)
Misuse
Some editors bristle when they see a semicolon in dialogue. I personally don't consider this a misuse (and many published authors seem to agree with
me). But, play it safe and don't use one in dialogue without good reason.
Let's Talk Style
A semicolon balances two equally weighted elements (independent clauses).
(Semicolon) Kevin is a good driver; he's never been in an accident. (Emphasizes the two clauses equally)
(Colon) Kevin is a good driver: he's never been in an accident. (Emphasizes the fact that he's never been in an accident)
(Period) Kevin is a good student. He's never been in an accident. (No emphasis)
Let's see how the pros use it
She had eyes of a sapphire hue, though rather darker than the gem ordinarily appears; they possessed the affectionate and liquid sparkle of loyalty and
good faith as distinguishable from that harder brightness which seems to express faithfulness only to the object confronting them.
--Thomas Hardy, Desperate Remedies.
But Buck was neither house-dog nor kennel-dog. The whole realm was his. He plunged into the swimming tank or went hunting with
the Judge's sons; he escorted Mollie and Alice, the Judge's daughters, on long twilight or early morning rambles; on wintry
nights he lay at the Judge's feet before the roaring library fire; he carried the Judge's grandsons on his back, or rolled them in
the grass, and guarded their footsteps through wild adventures down to the fountain in the stable yard, and even beyond, where
the paddocks were, and the berry patches.
--Jack London, The Call of the Wild
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