The Semicolon Or Super Comma!
The semicolon looks a little bit like a strong piece of punctuation trying to show off its muscles... don't you think? I do anyway, and that makes sense, because the semicolon is like a comma but stronger. In fact it's almost like a full stop, but not quite...
A semi colon is most commonly used to join two independent clauses together. That means if you have two sentences that are closely linked but would make sense if either one of the sentences didn't exist, you should use a semicolon instead of a full stop or comma.
Look at this example:
"Call me tomorrow; I will give you my answer then."
Both parts of this sentence (before and after the semicolon) could make sense on their own: they are independent clauses. If we were going to analyse why they make sense on their own, we could say both parts of the sentence have a subject and a verb.
Remember this grammar role:
A semi colon is most commonly used to join two independent clauses together. That means if you have two sentences that are closely linked but would make sense if either one of the sentences didn't exist, you should use a semicolon instead of a full stop or comma.
Look at this example:
"Call me tomorrow; I will give you my answer then."
Both parts of this sentence (before and after the semicolon) could make sense on their own: they are independent clauses. If we were going to analyse why they make sense on their own, we could say both parts of the sentence have a subject and a verb.
Remember this grammar role:
"Before you write that comma, pause; is it an independent clause?"
The semicolon helps your reader know that the two things you are saying are related to each other.
Another way of making sure you can show off your semicolon skills is by using them instead of connectives. Look at these two examples:
"They went hungry again because there was nothing to cook with."
"The two stories matched therefore it had to be true."
Both of the examples above have connectives that link two parts of the sentence. You could remove either of them and just use a semicolon instead:
"They went hungry again; there was nothing to cook with."
Another way of making sure you can show off your semicolon skills is by using them instead of connectives. Look at these two examples:
"They went hungry again because there was nothing to cook with."
"The two stories matched therefore it had to be true."
Both of the examples above have connectives that link two parts of the sentence. You could remove either of them and just use a semicolon instead:
"They went hungry again; there was nothing to cook with."
The Super Comma
Sometimes you will need to make a complicated list in your writing where you need to give extra information about some of the items in the list:
"There were lots of things on the list: a bag of apples; a very expensive set of cutlery; a chair, with a cushion, for the dinner table; and a magazine."
Without using a semicolon we would have to use a comma for two different things and so this sentence would not make sense. Therefore we use a super comma to separate the items in the list and the comma to perform its normal role in that burger sentence. Please note that the quote above also has a colon to start the list, this works because the colon comes after another independent clause.
"There were lots of things on the list: a bag of apples; a very expensive set of cutlery; a chair, with a cushion, for the dinner table; and a magazine."
Without using a semicolon we would have to use a comma for two different things and so this sentence would not make sense. Therefore we use a super comma to separate the items in the list and the comma to perform its normal role in that burger sentence. Please note that the quote above also has a colon to start the list, this works because the colon comes after another independent clause.
Questions
Correct any sentences that need to have a semi colon added or taken away. You may need to change some of the other punctuation marks.
1. You asked for forgiveness, he granted it to you.
2. We ask; therefore, that you do not tell anyone about this.
3. The homework was due in last term, therefore I expected it to have been handed in by now.
4. The actors, excluding the child characters; were very disappointing.
5. I have been to Paris, France, Berlin, Germany, and London, England.
6. I answered the phone; but no one seemed to be on the end of the line.
7. I only needed three cards to win, the jack of hearts, which I knew Sarah had, the four of spades, which I knew Shai had, and the ten of diamonds, which I had no idea about!
As usual, post your answers or any questions as comments and I'll reply.
Take care
1. You asked for forgiveness, he granted it to you.
2. We ask; therefore, that you do not tell anyone about this.
3. The homework was due in last term, therefore I expected it to have been handed in by now.
4. The actors, excluding the child characters; were very disappointing.
5. I have been to Paris, France, Berlin, Germany, and London, England.
6. I answered the phone; but no one seemed to be on the end of the line.
7. I only needed three cards to win, the jack of hearts, which I knew Sarah had, the four of spades, which I knew Shai had, and the ten of diamonds, which I had no idea about!
As usual, post your answers or any questions as comments and I'll reply.
Take care