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

Subject | Subject

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Fill in the Blank

Rewrite the sentence using COMMAS and SEMICOLONS.

John the baker Simon the policeman and Toby the architect.

Fill in the Blank

Rewrite the sentence using COMMAS and SEMICOLONS.

This year I visited Beijing China London England and Boston USA.

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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Fill in the Blank

Rewrite these two sentences using a semicolon.

You don't pay taxes. They take taxes.

Fill in the Blank

Rewrite this sentence with a semicolon.

Write with the door closed, and rewrite with the door open.

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.

Subject | Subject

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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.

Fill in the Blank

Rewrite this sentence with the correct use of one COMMA and one SEMICOLON.

I asked Tom however I'm not convinced he knows.

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.

Subject | Subject

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Fill in the Blank

Rewrite this sentence with TWO COMMAS and ONE SEMICOLON.

As she said I like cakes and I like pies especially cheese and onion pies.