Semicolons: The colon's ugly step-sister?

Semicolons: The colon's ugly step-sister?

By Jon Steenbeke

Semicolons have 4 uses

(1) To separate list items (when the list items contain commas).

Brian, the officer in charge; Mark, the chef; and Dexter, my dog.

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Semicolons can be used in lists to outrank any commas that appear in list items. That's less complicated than it sounds. This is a normal list:

• the master, the servant, and the cook

In a normal list, the list items are separated by commas. However, sometimes the list items themselves contain commas. When this happens, you can use semicolons to separate them. For example:

• the master, aged 81; the servant, aged 19; and the cook, aged 31

Not all of your list items have to contain commas to justify using semicolons. In fact, only one does. For example:

• the master, aged 81; the servant; and the cook

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Semicolons have 4 uses

(2) Using a Semicolon to Create a Smooth Transition between Two Sentences

A semicolon can be used to replace a period (full stop) when a smooth transition is required between sentences. For example:

• It was serious. She broke a toe.

• It was serious; she broke a toe.

• (A semicolon is less of a "speed bump" than starting a new sentence.)

• NOT - It was serious, she broke a toe.

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Semicolons have 4 uses

(3) To Create a Smooth Transition into a Sentence Starting with a Transitional Phrases

A conjunctive adverb usually starts with a capital letter and follows a period (full stop), but it is possible to create a smoother transition by replacing the period with a semicolon. For example:

• She broke her toe. As a result, the game was cancelled.

• She broke her toe; as a result, the game was cancelled.

• She broke her toe, as a result, the game was cancelled.​

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Here is another example:

• Vacation used to be a luxury. However, in today's world, it's become a necessity.

• Vacation used to be a luxury; however, in today's world, it's become a necessity.

Note: You cannot do this with a comma.

• She broke her toe, as a result, the game was cancelled.

• Vacation used to be a luxury, however, in today's world, it's become a necessity.

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Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

• I think, therefore I am.

• I think; therefore I am.

• I think; therefore, I am.

• I think, therefore; I am.

Semicolons have 4 uses

(4) Using a Semicolon to Merge Two Comma-filled Sentences Joined with a Conjunction

It is common to merge two sentences into one using a conjunction (a word like "and," "or," "but"). For example:

• Lee likes cake. He likes pies.

• Lee likes cake, and he likes pies.

• (Here, the conjunction "and" has been used to merge the two "sentences" into one.

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However, when the "sentences" themselves contain commas, it is possible to outrank those commas by using a semicolon before the conjunction instead of a comma. For example:

• At the end of the day, Lee likes cake; and he likes, well, actually prefers, pies.

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