Semicolons

Semicolons

​or

​Semi-Colons

​For ease we will be referring to them as Semicolons.

​Semicolons = ;

​These funny pieces of punctuation can make your writing more concise, easier to read and more fluid.

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HOWEVER,

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​Used incorrectly, you will not to make sense and confuse your reader.

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​Utilise these useful tips to incorporate them into your writing.

​In simple terms

​A semicolon is used for two reasons:

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​1) To join two clauses (or parts of a sentence) together without using a conjunction. They replace the conjunction.

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​2) To make a complex list easier to read.

Multiple Select

Which of the following is a reason why we should use a semicolon?

(There might be more than one answer)

• I would like to tighten up my writing and remove a conjunction or two.

• I need to make my writing more complex and appear cleverer.

• I've got a long list here and commas don't seem to be cutting it.

• Semicolons are much cooler than commas, end of.

Multiple Select

Which of these sentences employs a semicolon correctly?

(There might be more than one!)

• It was one in the afternoon; and I was hungry.

• My favourite football teams are: Liverpool; Man Utd; and West Ham.

• The fruit in the bowl was brown and starting to stink; this house had been empty a long time.

• My favourite capitals to visit are: Kyiv, in the Ukraine; Rabat, in Morroco; and, best of all, Paris, in France. 

​Semicolons for speed and fluidity

Semicolons can make your text read more fluidly. They can speed up the reading of the text by taking out a word:

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​Instead of:

​I have two great motorbikes and this is one of them.

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​You can make it:

​I have two great motorbikes; this is one of them.

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​You remove the conjunction - in this case: and

​Hang on, why not use commas or full stops?

​​​I have two great motorbikes, this is one of them.

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​These are not main and subordinate clauses. They are two separate sentences, so a comma isn't strong enough to link them together. This is comma splicing and not something we want to do.

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​​I have two great motorbikes. This is one of them.

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​But a full stop is too jerky - too much of a separation. These sentences are related. In the second one, I use a pronoun that I reference in the first; a semicolon is the perfect piece of punctuation.

​Where exactly to put your ;

​When writing, especially on the computer, make sure you place your semicolon correctly.

​​​I have two great motorbikes; (space) this is one of them.

​Notice that the semicolon sits directly after the word 'motorbikes' and then there's a space.

It is NOT ​​I have two great motorbikes (space); (space) this is one of them.

​​I have two great motorbikes; this is one of them.

​Please also note that you do not need to capitalise the start of the next clause. Obviously, if you are using first person pronoun 'I' you have to capitalise!!!!!

​Using semicolons in lists

​Usually when lists are created, we can use a colon to start us off, and then commas to separate the items on our list.

​My shopping list: milk, ice cream, bread, biscuits and toe-nail clippers.​

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​The best TV shows are: Knight Rider, Porridge, Blockbusters and Gladiators.

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​(one for the UK teachers there)

​Using semicolons in lists

​​However, we might have to write a list which contains more information and therefore looks difficult to separate with commas:

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​My shopping list: Earl Grey tea, for my grandma, a box of Shreddies, but not a really big one, and half a kilo of butter, as the dog ate the last lot.

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This is where we can utilise the semicolon:

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​​My shopping list: Earl Grey tea, for my grandma; a box of Shreddies, but not a really big one; and half a kilo of butter, as the dog ate the last lot.

​Using semicolons in lists

​​​My shopping list: Earl Grey tea, for my grandma; a box of Shreddies, but not a really big one; and half a kilo of butter, as the dog ate the last lot.

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​You can see above, the semicolons allow the reader to see that information is connected and that the list continues after more information is given about each item.

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​The confusing issue here is that the last semicolon sits next to what looks like a conjunction (and) in the above example. It can, as this is part of a list.

​Watch out for conjunctive adverbs

​A conjunctive adverb connects ideas in a sentence:

• however

• instead

• therefore

• meanwhile

• consequently

• accordingly

• also

If a conjunctive adverb is used to link two sentences, a semicolon must be used before the conjunctive adverb:

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Sohal spent three hours in the library; however, he couldn’t find the book he wanted.

​Watch out for subordinate clauses

​If there are subordinate clauses being used (clauses that do not make sense on their own), you cannot use a semi colon.

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​As there is no wind, I cannot fly my kite.

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​The clause must be able to stand on its own as a sentence.

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​'As there is no wind' is not a sentence on its own; it is a subordinate clause. It needs the main clause 'I cannot fly my kite' to make sense.

YOU CANNOT USE A SEMICOLON HERE

Multiple Select

Which of these sentences uses their semicolon correctly?

(There may be more than one)

• My dog is not a labrador; because she is a retriever.

• Imogen missed the bus; she had to walk to town.

• No problem if you have forgotten your toothbrush; I have a spare one.

• I wish you'd write more neatly; so I can understand it.

Multiple Choice

Which of these sentences uses their semicolon correctly?

• I do not have Latin today; therefore I do not need my text book.

• The future skills are; Endeavour; Integrity; Curiosity; Responsibility and Kindness.

• After that long assembly; we all need a lie down.

• The boys in my class all went on their rugby fixture, meanwhile; I was in off games.

Multiple Select

Which of these sentences uses their semicolons correctly?

(there may be more than one)

• Today, I must: use my red pen for French; my blue one for Maths; and then the black one for English.

• I wouldn't take your coat on your bike because: you will lose it; it will get it caught in the wheels; or it will slow you down.

• I have been bowled out too many times; I need to practise in the nets more often.

• I have one knife, two forks and three spoons; I'm going to have to get more.

Poll

How confident do you feel now about using semicolons?

• Very; thank you for this wonderful lesson.

• More confident than I used to be; things are improving.

• I'm not 100% sure; so can I have another go?

• Ha;ven't; a; clue;!