The semicolon is often described as stronger than a comma but not as strong as a period. It helps connect closely related ideas. Let’s see how and when to use it correctly.
1. Between Independent Clauses Without a Conjunction
A semicolon connects two independent clauses (complete thoughts) when there’s no coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) between them.
Correct:
- The meeting was scheduled for 2 p.m.; everyone arrived on time.
Here, both parts could be separate sentences, but the semicolon links them for emphasis.
Incorrect:
- The meeting was scheduled for 2 p.m., everyone arrived on time.
In this case, a comma is incorrect because there’s no conjunction to join the two independent clauses.
If you add a conjunction like “but,” the semicolon is no longer needed.
Correct:
- The meeting was scheduled for 2 p.m., but everyone arrived early.
2. Between Independent Clauses Linked by a Transitional Expression
Semicolons can also join two independent clauses when a transition word (e.g., however, therefore, meanwhile) connects them.
Correct:
- I wanted to go for a run; however, it started raining.
Incorrect:
- I wanted to go for a run, however, it started raining.
The comma here is incorrect because transitional expressions between independent clauses require a semicolon.
3. In Lists with Internal Commas
When you have a list where the items themselves contain commas, use semicolons to separate the items for clarity.
Correct:
- On our trip, we visited Paris, France; Rome, Italy; and Berlin, Germany.
Incorrect:
- On our trip, we visited Paris, France, Rome, Italy, and Berlin, Germany.
Without the semicolons, the sentence is confusing because it’s unclear where one item ends and the next begins.
4. In Elliptical Constructions
A semicolon is used to join phrases where part of the sentence is understood and doesn’t need to be repeated.
Correct:
- The first speaker talked about the economy; the second, about technology.
Incorrect:
- The first speaker talked about the economy, the second, about technology.
The semicolon helps show that the second clause is related but omits the repeated words for simplicity.