About
Semicolons can:
- join two complete sentences.
- fix a comma splice.
Semicolons act like a period in some cases, like a comma in others.
Articles Related
Like a
Period
When a semicolon joins two independent clauses, use it like a period:
- Mark found the new route easy; the other climbers were impressed.
- The balloon floated up to the ceiling; the baby cried.
Even though you can use semicolons like a period, you should use them sparingly, usually with an adverbial conjunction:
- The new law goes into effect today; therefore, you can no longer turn right on a red light between 4 and 6 p.m
Comma
You can also use semicolons in between items in a series when those items have commas.
- An unidentified flying object was spotted in Roswell, New Mexico; Amarillo, Texas; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Paducah, Kentucky.
- He disliked ice cream, cookies, and cake; horror movies, cherub statues, and violins; and sleeping, playing dominoes, and counting on his fingers.