Semicolon definition: A semicolon is a punctuation mark that is used to separate equal grammatical units.

What is a Semicolon?

A semicolon is a type of punctuation mark. It is not end punctuation like a period, an exclamation point, or a question mark. Rather, a semicolon is used within a sentence.

Semicolons look like a combination of a colon and a comma. Therefore, they are called semicolons, which literally means “half colon.”

How To Use Semicolons

Semicolons are sometimes called the “super comma,” but they are distinct enough to be their own punctuation mark and have different and specific functions from commas.

Semicolons are most often used to separate two equal independent clauses within one complete sentence.

Semicolon Example:

• I have to wake-up early; I hate sleeping in late.

The other most common use of semicolons is to separate lists when commas are present within the list itself which is part of a single independent clause.

Semicolon Example:

• My teacher told me important lessons: to read, read, and reread; to always ask questions, even when I think I know the answer; and to always believe in myself.

When to Use Semicolons

Semicolons have various uses. Here is a more detailed explanation of what we have briefly examined in the above sections.

1.) To unite closely connected sentences

Semicolons are used to unite sentences that have equal weight and importance.

It’s important to note that this is different from using a period. A period is used to end a sentence. A semicolon joins two independent thoughts that are closely related.

A semicolon is only used to join sentences when the independent clauses are of equal importance, length, and weight.

Examples:

• I have to wake-up early; I hate sleeping in late.
• Let’s go to lunch; I forgot to bring food.
• He did not know the answer; he guessed and responded correctly.

2.) Before a conjunction.

When a sentence contains multiple commas in the first clause, it is appropriate to use a semicolon before a conjunction to join two clauses.

When too many commas are used in one sentence, the sentence becomes confusing. A semicolon helps to break up the clauses and avoid confusion for the reader.

Examples:

• I bought apples, oranges, and pears; but I couldn’t find bananas.
• My mom taught me how to sew, bake, and cook; and, now that I have my own family, I couldn’t be more grateful for her lessons.

3.) In a complex list containing its own commas.

When a list contains multiple commas (not just the commas separating the elements of the list), a semicolon should be used instead of a comma.

Commas separate the items within a list. However, when the items in the list contain commas themselves, semicolons should be used to separate the items in the complex list.

Examples:

• My teacher told me important lessons: to read, read, and reread; to always ask questions, even when I think I know the answer; and to always believe in myself.
• I have visited the Invalides, the Eiffel Tower, and the Louvre in France; the Prado, the Sagrada Familia, and the Guggenheim in Spain; and the St. Louis Arch, the Space Needle, and the Smithsonian in the United States.

4.) Stylistically simple for longer pause than a comma

If a writer chooses to create a longer, more dramatic pause, he may decide to use a semicolon instead of a comma. A semicolon creates a longer stop for the reader.

Examples:

• I couldn’t believe the result; and I didn’t know what to do after hearing it.
• My doctor told me I shouldn’t be concerned; but I didn’t know how else to react.

Capitalization After Semicolon

Do you capitalize after a semicolon? Words after a semicolon should not be capitalized. It may seem like capitalization after a semicolon is necessary, especially when two clauses are combined; however, capitalizing words after a semicolon is inappropriate.

The only words that should be capitalized after a semicolon are proper nouns, which are always capitalized.

Common Errors With Semicolons

As with any punctuation mark, the semicolon is routinely misused. The most common error with semicolons is to confuse them with colons.

Using it instead of a colon

A semicolon and a colon may look similar; however, they have different functions entirely.

A colon introduces lists while a semicolon separates complex lists.

Example of colon use:

• I wanted three things for my birthday: a necklace, a bike, and a phone.

A colon introduces a new thought that requires capitalization; a semicolon joins two ideas that are similar in nature. A colon gives greater emphasis on the second sentence where the semicolon balances the two sentences.

Example of semicolon use:

• I got accepted to college; I am excited.

Summary: What Are Semicolons?

Define semicolon: the definition of semicolon is a punctuation mark that separates parts that need a more substantial break than a comma can provide but less than a period.

In summary, a semicolon is:

• a type of punctuation mark
• most often used to join closely related sentences

not to be confused with a colon or a comma

The Colon

The colon (:) seems to bewilder many people, though it’s really rather easy to
use correctly, since it has only one major use. But first please note the
following: the colon is never preceded by a white space; it is always followed
by a single white space in normal use, and it is never, never,
never followed
by a hyphen or a dash — in spite of what you might have been taught in school.
One of the commonest of all punctuation mistakes is following a colon with a
completely pointless hyphen.

The colon is used to indicate that what follows it is an explanation or
elaboration of what precedes it. That is, having introduced some topic in more
general terms, you can use a colon and go on to explain that same topic in more
specific terms. Schematically:

More general: more specific

A colon is nearly always preceded by a complete sentence; what follows
the colon may or may not be a complete sentence, and it may be a mere list or
even a single word. A colon is not normally followed by a capital letter in
British usage, though American usage often prefers to use a capital. Here are
some examples:

Africa is facing a terrifying problem: perpetual drought.

[Explains what the problem is.]

The situation is clear: if you have unprotected sex with a stranger, you
risk AIDS.

[Explains what the clear situation is.]

She was sure of one thing: she was not going to be a housewife.

[Identifies the one thing she was sure of.]

Mae West had one golden rule for handling men: “Tell the pretty ones
they’re smart and tell the smart ones they’re pretty.”

[Explicates the golden rule.]

Several friends have provided me with inspiration: Tim, Ian and, above
all, Larry.

[Identifies the friends in question.]

We found the place easily: your directions were perfect.

[Explains why we found it easily.]

I propose the creation of a new post: School Executive Officer.

[Identifies the post in question.]

Very occasionally, the colon construction is turned round, with the
specifics coming first and the general summary afterward:

Saussure, Sapir, Bloomfield, Chomsky: all these have revolutionized
linguistics in one way or another.

Like all inverted constructions, this one should be used sparingly.

While you’re studying these examples, notice again that the colon is
never preceded by a white space and never followed by anything except a single
white space.

You should not use a colon, or any other mark, at the end of a heading
which introduces a new section of a document: look at the chapter headings and section headings in the present document. It is, however, usual to use a colon after a word,
phrase or sentence in the middle of a text which introduces some following
material which is set off in the middle of the page. There are three consecutive
examples of this just above, in the second, third and fourth paragraphs of this
section.

The colon has a few minor uses. First, when you cite the name of a
book which has both a title and a subtitle, you should separate the two with a
colon:

I recommend Chinnery’s book .

You should do this even though no colon may appear on the cover or the title
page of the book itself.

Second, the colon is used in citing passages from the Bible:

The story of Menahem is found in II Kings 15:14–22.

Observe that, exceptionally, the colon is not followed by a white space in
Biblical references.

Third, the colon may be used in writing ratios:

Among students of French, women outnumber men by more than 4:1.

In formal writing, however, it is usually preferable to write out ratios in words:

Among students of French, women outnumber men by more than four
to one.

Fourth, in American usage, a colon is used to separate the hours from
the minutes in giving a time of day: , (A). British Eng
lish uses a full
stop for this purpose: , .

Finally, the colon is used in formal letters
and in citing references to published work.

Copyright © Larry Trask, 1997