A semicolon is used in these main ways:
-
To join two closely related independent clauses (complete sentences) that are not connected by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet). This shows a close relationship between the two sentences without using a conjunction. For example:
"I do not like chocolate; ice cream is my favorite." -
To join independent clauses linked by a transitional word or phrase such as however, therefore, moreover, etc. A semicolon comes before the transition word, followed by a comma. For example:
"I do not like to ride the bus; however, I ride it when I visit my sister." -
To separate items in a complex list where the items themselves contain commas, to avoid confusion. For example:
"Classic sci-fi sagas include Star Trek, with Mr. Spock and his pointed ears; Battlestar Galactica, with its Cylon Raiders; and Star Wars, with Han Solo and Darth Vader."
In essence, the semicolon indicates a pause stronger than a comma but weaker than a period, connecting related ideas or clarifying complex lists.
