Beginning writers often think of semi-colons as unncecessary. Why use them, they ask, when a comma or period will serve as well? In fact, semi-colons serve a vital grammatical function that other pieces of punctuation cannot: they join together or clarify ideas that are closely related. As such, they should not be confused with commas, periods, or colons.
Joining Two Independent Clauses
Semi-colons join two independent clauses that could stand on their own as complete sentences:
- John went to the store. He bought milk.
- John went to the store; he bought milk.
What's the difference? The semi-colon shows a closer relationship between the ideas than a period.
Semi-colons also join independent clauses that would sound awkward or unwieldy if they were joined in another way:
- The Smiths sold their house far below market value; they said that, rather than turning it into rental property, they wanted to get rid of it.
One could insert the word “because” into the above sentence instead of using a semi-colon. Notice, however, that the sentence is easier to read without an additional word.
Semi-Colons and Items In a Series
Semi-colons can be used to separate items in a series; however, they should be used only when commas alone would not clarify the relationship between items:
- The following stops are on our itinerary: Kansas City, Missouri; Lawrence, Kansas; Denver, Colorado; Santa Fe, New Mexico; Grants, New Mexico; and Tucson, Arizona.
In the above example, the semi-colons clarify the relationship between cities and states.
Improper Uses of Semi-Colons
Do not use a semi-colon if one of the two clauses is a dependent clause:
- You can save time by going to the store on Oak Street; and it’s cheaper.
Do not use a semi-colon in place of a comma:
- For example; they have specials on frozen food this week.
Do not use a semi-colon to introduce a quote:
- Racing down the stairs, Mitch shouted; “Leave my car alone!”
Do not use semi-colons with short lists or lists in which the relationship of elements is already clear:
- The Beatles consisted of John Lennon; Paul McCartney; George Harrison; and Ringo Starr.
Test Yourself
Correct the following passage. (Answer appears at end of article.)
- When moving to a new apartment, you must do several things, for example, call the utilities to have your services switched over to your new apartment, notify family, friends, and your employer of your change of address, and make sure you have enough money to cover moving expenses. Also, don’t forget to tell your current landlord that you are moving out.
Use a semi-colon to join two independent clauses or to clarify elements in a series. When using the semi-colon for the former purpose, make sure that the both clauses could stand on their own. (Answer: Replace the comma after “things” with a semi-colon. No other semi-colons are needed because the relationship between “family,” “friends,” and “your employer” is already clear.)
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