The semicolon is a punctuation mark that causes much too much stress for English learners and developing writers! This short article will explain the basics of correct semicolon usage in English!

What is a Semicolon?

First of all, let’s make sure we know what we’re talking about. A semicolon looks like a dot over a comma (;). Be careful not to confuse this with a colon, which is one dot over another dot (:). A semicolon is one of the punctuation marks in English, like a comma (,), period (.), exclamation point (!), and question mark (?). We use punctuation in writing to show the breaks between words, phrases, clauses, and sentences, and to help make meaning clearer.

How do you use a Semicolon in English?

Connecting Independent Clauses with Semicolons

Almost all the time, a semicolon is used to connect two independent clauses that are clearly connected to each other. Here are a few examples:

Let’s notice a few things about the examples above. First of all, the semicolon comes between two independent clauses. Remember, an independent clause is built around a subject and a verb, and it could stand by itself as a sentence. Second, there is no conjunction used to connect the clauses. We don’t use semicolons and conjunctions together. Third, the relationship between the two clauses is extremely clear. Often we connect clauses with conjunctions, and the conjunction helps us to see the relationship between two clauses. In cases where that relationship is completely obvious, we can use a semicolon instead of a conjunction. Last, notice that we don’t need a capital letter following a semicolon.

When is a Semicolon Necessary?

So, remember: a semicolon can connect two independent clauses, and an independent clause is a clause that can stand by itself as a complete sentence. If one independent clause doesn’t need to be connected to another sentence, that means a semicolon is basically never necessary; it’s a choice!

Using Semicolons in Lists

We also sometimes use semicolons in lists and series. In most situations, we use commas between items in a list, like this:

But when your list has commas inside the items, this can get really confusing:

In the example above, the number of commas can make it difficult to understand the series. This is a situation where we might use semicolons to separate the items in the list:

Using semicolons in addition to the commas required by the relative clauses with which helps to create a hierarchy in the sentence, making it easier to see the structure of the series.

We may also use semicolons in lists with bullets or numbers, like this: