A semicolon is used in three main ways:
- To join two closely related independent clauses that are not connected by coordinating conjunctions like "and," "but," or "or." Both clauses must be complete sentences. Example: "I do not like to eat chocolate; ice cream is my food of choice." This shows a close relationship between the two ideas without using a conjunction.
- To join two independent clauses connected by a transitional word or conjunctive adverb such as "however," "therefore," or "meanwhile." The semicolon is placed before the transitional word, which is often followed by a comma. Example: "I do not like to ride the bus; however, I ride it when I visit my sister." This use emphasizes the connection without a comma splice.
- To separate items in a list or series when the items themselves contain commas, helping to avoid confusion. This acts like a "super comma." Example: "Classic science fiction sagas are Star Trek, with Mr. Spock and his large pointed ears; Battlestar Galactica, with its Cylon Raiders; and Star Wars, with Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Darth Vader." This clarifies groupings within the sentence.
In essence, semicolons provide a pause stronger than a comma but softer than a period and are especially helpful for linking related sentences or clarifying complex lists.
