The semicolon is a punctuation mark that often perplexes writers. So much so that people often do their best to avoid using them in the first place. That said, it is something that we, as writers, editors, and proofreaders, grapple with daily. Not as common as a full stop or comma, the semicolon is a tricky one; however, understanding how to use it can help you to improve the clarity and flow of your writing. With that in mind, we here at English Editorial Solutions thought it might be a good idea to tackle the subject head on.
You might recall that we recently discussed independent clauses in an earlier blog post in our punctuation series. Well, semicolons are primarily used to join two independent clauses that are closely related in meaning. In short, this means that both clauses could stand alone as separate sentences, but the writer has chosen to connect them for a specific reason. Another use of the semicolon, and one that is seen much more often, is to separate items in a list that contain internal punctuation such as commas.
To give you a better idea, below are a few examples of proper semicolon use:
Connecting Independent Clauses: A semicolon can replace a conjunction (e.g., “and”, “but”, “or”) when the two independent clauses are closely related. For example, “She loves hiking; he prefers swimming”.
Separating Items in a List: In complex lists where items have descriptions, groupings, or explanations, semicolons can be used to separate list items more distinctly. For instance, “The conference covered a range of topics, including artificial intelligence, focusing on machine learning; environmental sustainability, specifically renewable energy sources; and urban planning, such as smart city initiatives”.
Balancing Sentence Elements: Semicolons can be used to balance sentence elements, particularly when one or both clauses are lengthy or complex. For example, “The research was exhaustive and took hundreds of hours to complete to a satisfactory level; however, the results were inconclusive”.
Transitioning in a Series: In complex sentences, a semicolon can aid in transitioning between ideas. For example, “She was tired from work; nevertheless, she decided to go for a run”.
Remember, a semicolon should not be overused; its impact is most effective when it is used to create a logical connection between clauses or to more clearly separate items in a list that contains commas. First and foremost, if you are going to use a semicolon, always ensure that both sides of it can stand alone as complete sentences.
Hopefully, this guide has cleared up some of the confusion surrounding the semicolon and will help in enhancing your writing. If you are still unsure, however, please feel free to get in touch with our team at English Editorial Solutions. We are standing by to assist with your editing and proofreading needs.