The Semicolon

TODAY'S LESSON IS ABOUT

GRAMMAR AND PUNCTUATION: USING

 SEMICOLONS

SEMICOLON

WHAT IS A SEMICOLON?

 A semicolon is a punctuation mark that separates major sentences.

A semicolon ((;) is used in place of a period (.)
to separate two sentences where the conjunction has been left out.

Conjunctions are words like for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so ( FANBOYS). A easy way to remember conjunctions.

Don't use semicolons with conjunctions.

EXAMPLE:

My uncle's feet are very large, but I have no desire to tell him.
A comma is used because there's a but separating the two sentences.
My uncle's feet are very large; I have no desire to tell him.
A semicolon is used in place of but to separate the two sentences.



A semicolon can also be used in place of commas to separate items in a list, especially when the list contain commas. If you find that one of your list items contains a comma, you should change the other commas to semicolons. Example

 Bread, milk, butter, cheese, pork, steak, and chicken.

Bread, milk, butter, and cheese from the deli shop; pork, steak and chicken from the meat mart; and carrots from the supermarket.

HOW

TO USE A SEMICOLON?

"Can anyone tell me how a semicolon is used?"

If you have two independent clauses, meaning they could stand alone as their own sentences, then a semicolon can be used. For example.

My daughter also has long hair; she loves to comb and wash it.
These are two independent clauses, meaning they can stand alone as a complete sentence. They don't need to be attached.

What's the point of a semicolon?

The most common ways to use a semicolon is to connect two independent clauses or sentences. 

For example

The FedEx truck man drove by my street today. He had a large package.

The two statements are separated by a period. If read aloud, it would sound like this:
The FedEx truck man drove by my street today; he had a large package.

What we did was to eliminate the pause between the two sentences by using a semicolon.

Don't

Don't use semicolons with conjunctions.

Conjunctions are words like and, but, or, nor, for, so and yet. Example:
My uncle's feet are very large, but I have no desire to tell him.
A comma is used because there's a but separating the two clauses.

WHEN?

When should you use a semicolon?

Use a semicolon when you want to connect between two statements, when they are related to or contrasted with one another.

Example

The rat nibbles on old wood; it helps to strengthen his jaw so he can prepare himself for his bates.

These sentences are strengthened by using a semicolon.

The relationship between nibbling on wood and preparing for his bates is strengthened by using a semicolon.

Do the excercises below after viewing this film on Ted.Ed.com
                     

Semicolons - Exercise 1

Joining Independent Clauses or sentences.

Instructions

1.  A semicolon is needed in each of the  sentences below. Decide where the semicolon belongs. Then put the word that comes just before the semicolon.

Questions
1. It is a sunny day I will bring my hat with me.
	a.) sunny
	b.) day
	c.) hat
2. The weather will change soon otherwise, the  summer will go by quickly.
	a.) soon
	b.) otherwise
	c.) summer
3. The boy doesn't understand Spanish therefore, he will  not pass the final.
	a.) understand
	b.) Spanish
	c.) therefore
4. George will play baseball tomorrow then he will be selected for the tournament.
	a.)selected
	b.)baseball
	c.) tomorrow
5. The student had high grades in school she applied to Lehman College.
	a.) grades
	b.) school
	c.) applied
6. Some Community Colleges offer Financial Aide others do not.
	a.) colleges
	b.) others
	c.) Aide