What is a semicolon used for example?

Semicolons Separate Clauses Here’s an example: I have a big test tomorrow; I can’t go out tonight. The two clauses in that sentence are separated by a semicolon and could be sentences on their own if you put a period between them instead: I have a big test tomorrow.

How do you use a semicolon in a sentence?

Using Semicolons

1. A semicolon is most commonly used to link (in a single sentence) two independent clauses that are closely related in thought.
2. Use a semicolon between two independent clauses that are connected by conjunctive adverbs or transitional phrases.

Can you use a semicolon to introduce a list?

Semicolons separate items within a list, while a colon precedes and introduces a list.

How do you use a semicolon in a bulleted list?

“If you begin each item with a lowercase letter, put a semicolon at the end of each item, use and after the next-to-last item, and put a period after the last item.” Garner calls this “vertical lists punctuated as a sentence.” This is where the semicolon confusion comes in.

What are the three semicolon rules?

There are three uses of the semicolon.

• Use a semicolon to connect (put together) two related, or similar, sentences.
• Use a semicolon to join two related, or similar, sentences when using a conjunctive adverb.
• Use a semicolon to connect items in a list if there are already commas in the sentence.

How do you use colons and semicolons?

Colons (:) are used in sentences to show that something is following, like a quotation, example, or list. Semicolons (;) are used to join two independent clauses, or two complete thoughts that could stand alone as complete sentences.

Do you use a colon or semicolon for lists?

It is therefore correct to use a colon before the list. This means that no colon is needed and it would be incorrect to use one before the list. So if you have a list, remember you only use a colon before it if the list follows a clause that could be used on its own.

Can you use a colon after one word?

The colon can also emphasize a single word: “Just one word of advice for you, Benji: plastics.” Sometimes, writers will use a colon where they don’t need to.

Do you use a colon or semicolon before bullet points?

Bullet points, often called dot points, are more commonly used than numbers in lists, but numbers are useful if the order matters or if you want to refer to specific points within the list. Most lists are introduced with a colon ( : ), not a semicolon (a common mistake). The most common is the round black bullet point.

Should bullet points have capital letters?

If a list is introduced by a complete sentence, each bullet point needs to begin with a capital letter. This is why it is better to use a colon to introduce a list in which each item is a single word or consists of only two or three words.

Can you use 3 semicolons in one sentence?

In this context, it’d be ok to use multiple ones in the list but not ok to use them to link sentences (this being the general rule – let me flesh this one out below).

When to use a semicolon instead of a comma?

Whereas a comma can stitch together a dependent clause and an independent clause, a semicolon can connect two independent clauses. Semicolons are also used to separate items within a list, when the items themselves have commas in them.

Who was the first person to use a semicolon?

The first recorded print of the semicolon was by Italian printer Aldus Manutius in 1494. Manutius popularised the use of semicolons when separating words of opposed meaning. The journey of the semicolon was not always smooth sailing, with famous writer George Orwell refusing to use it in his work.

Is the semicolon the wild child of punctuation?

The semicolon is the wild child of punctuation. You could write an entire book and never use it. However, understanding their correct use is a vital skill for writers, no matter the language. Knowing how and when to use punctuation is an integral part of writing.

How to connect two independent clauses with a semicolon?

Connect 2 closely independent clauses with a conjunction after the semicolon. So, to review, a semicolon is simply a connection between two related independent clauses. In the next lesson, it explains the other use: to separate items in a list. I hope this helped. 🙂