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!!!!!

Fill in the Blank

Change this sentence into one that uses a semicolon?

I hurt my knee and I have trouble walking.

(A tip - identify the conjunction - the word that joins the two clauses together - and replace it with a semicolon)

Fill in the Blank

Change this sentence into one that uses a semicolon?

Sohal spent three hours in the library but he couldn’t find the book he wanted.

(A tip - identify the conjunction - the word that joins the two clauses together - and replace it with a semicolon)

​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.

Fill in the Blank

Change this list into one that uses semicolons?

Three items on the menu today: Chicken Korma, served with rice, Roast beef with mash potato and Yorkshire puddings and Fish and Chips, with mushy peas.

​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;!