When & Where to Use Semicolon: Connect Your Words Smartly

Want to sound grammatically correct in all your documents? Learn the art of punctuation in the English language and display your superiority! However, learning the exact ins and outs of punctuation marks is quite tricky. But once you know how to and when to use them in your writing, then no one can ever tell you that your script doesn’t look graceful.

You use the right punctuation marks and all your creative content writing will take on a completely new look. Here, we are going to tell you all the secrets of “semicolons”. Ever wondered why this period on top of a comma is so important in a document?

Let’s start from the basics and then look more into it:

What is a Semicolon ‘;’?

This is one of the most misunderstood punctuation marks. Without grammar-correcting tools, nearly everyone either uses it in the wrong place or just ends up using a comma in its stead! The semi-colon “;” is used between two sentences that are connected as well as can be written separately.

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the semicolon, “indicates the punctuation mark that is used to separate different parts of a sentence that need a clear barrier between them that cannot be represented by a comma. It is used to separate clauses and phrases containing commas and main sentences that don’t have conjunctions in between.”

This is mainly used to indicate a pause between sentences. It is one of the more supercilious marks that aren’t often used. So, when you add them to your writing, they work like salt in food and enhance its taste!

Different Between a Colon “:” and a Semicolon “;”

They are both important pieces of punctuation. In order to make your documents and content look more professional, you need to learn the difference between them.

A “colon-:” is used to introduce an explanation or a description. You will mostly see it just before a list of things is written down or a description is starting.

For Example: “When I go to the market, I have to shop for the following: vegetables, eggs, milk, biscuits and some fruits.”

See, how I used the colon twice above. Once to describe the example and after that, to list down the products. 

A “semicolon-;” cannot be used in the same context. A semicolon is always used to join two separate sentences and correlate them by making them into one complete sentence. The sentences that you link together are the ones that can easily work separately. However, if you want to make it sound graceful, you connect the two typically short clauses.

For Example: “I have a cat. Her name is Bella.” These sentences are correct but look more childish.

You can write this as: “I have a cat; her name is Bella.” This sentence is also correct but now it looks more professional.

When Do You Use a Semicolon?

If we go formal and define the use of a semicolon in a paragraph, it would be:

“If two or more sentences that are related and grammatically correct but aren’t connected by a conjunction, can be connected by the use of the semicolon. This way, they form a single unit of a clause.”

In easy words, we can say that if two sentences are related and you don’t want to use connecting words like ‘or’, ‘and’ or ‘but’, then you can add a semicolon in between and make your writing sound grammatically perfect.

This way, your script won’t be full of conjunction and connecting words, as well as have a professionally written finish to it!

Who’s Going to Use it?

If you’re wondering who in their right mind would like to use a semicolon and complicate their writing, then the answer is all kinds of professional writers! When you write the words and sentences in a paragraph; they are the bones and flesh of writing, but when you master the punctuation situation; it means you have breathed life into those words!

Many famous authors have mastered the art of using a semicolon. Using it in between sentences to co-relate them makes their books even more interesting to read. Like how I did in the last paragraph, by relating flesh and bones to words and sentences, I’m sure you weren’t expecting that to come out of anywhere. So, copywriters, academic writers content writers, and authors, all use this little piece of punctuation to enhance their sentence structures.

Why Not Just Use a Comma?

Well, we can say that a semicolon falls in the middle of the punctuation hierarchy. It is definitely stronger than a comma but sadly a period supersedes it. This is why it’s represented with a period on top and a comma at the bottom.

When we try to use a comma in the place of a semicolon, it will always look odd. If you want to piece together shorter phrases that a comma feels like a good glue to keep them together.

For example: “the dog came, jumped on me, and slobbered all over”.

Here you are connecting shorter phrases; therefore, comma suffices perfectly. However, if you try to glue longer sentences in the same way, then your document will look grammatically incomplete.

For example: if you say, “she did not eat the banana, she ate the apple.” This looks like it should either contain conjunction or a period to either join the sentences or separate them completely. Here, if you write, “she did not eat the banana; she ate the apple.” It looks perfectly correct!

Another thing is that if you add a period in between these sentences, they’ll look like kid sentences and nobody would be interested in reading sentences that look like a first grader has composed. This is why conjunctions and semicolons exist, to make your sentences look more sophisticated with their existence.

Rules for How to Use a Semicolon in Different Perspectives

You have learned that a semicolon plays an important role in writing, but you don’t know exactly where to place it in your script to make it look refined. In order to give your document that beautiful finish, you can learn these rules and put that semicolon right on the dot!

• Use Semicolons to Relate Two Different Sentences

We now know that the main job of a semicolon is to link sentences and make them into a big pleasing sentence. With a semicolon, you can join two or more sentences in thought. If you are associating them together, they can be worded together with the use of a semicolon. This way, they will present a united idea and meaning which is much easy to understand and connect.

For Example: “She was nervous to go down the stairs, but as she descended; the entire ballroom fell into a hush, seeing the beauty coming down.”

These are two different sentences yet related and connected with a semicolon In between.

• Linking Conjunctional Adverbs and Transitionally Connected Sentences

When conjunctional adverbs are being used in the middle of the sentence like, besides, also, consequently, meanwhile, you should use a semicolon to represent the long pause before the transitional phrase. This way, you know the words before and after the conjunctional word contains a break, and the sentences can be written differently as well but are actually related so, they are connected.

For Example: “The battle came to an end; after all, the lead enemy had died.”

Here, “after all” is the transitional phrase and we have used a semicolon before it to relate the two sentences.

• Connect Lists Together with a Semicolon

You can use a semicolon between listed words as well. If the listed words contain commas, you still need to differentiate words in the list by relating them to the same category. At the same time, you want to show that they still belong to the same category, then you should make use of semicolons and present your work correctly.

For Example: “She’s an artist who uses either a drawing pad to show her artistry, which takes longer with the different paints and brushers; or she uses her tablet to create masterpieces, which is quite easy to control.”

Here, we are connecting the list, but also telling that the things in the list are completely different but are used to perform similar tasks.

• Connect Lengthy Clauses that Relate

If a clause is too long with lots of commas in between, you can connect the sentence by using a semicolon in between. This clause is a mixture of two independent sentences that are connected with the use of a coordinating conjunction.

For Example: “All the councilmen had hurried up to gather in the council room; however, everyone was blank on what the meeting was about because the king had been unclear when he had made the call.”

The conjunction word here is “However”. It is linking two interconnecting sentences that are making a lengthy sentence.

Where Not to Use it!

Now that the rules on where to use the semi colon are cleared up, let’s learn where not to use them. As this punctuation mark is kept quite highly, exploiting it in a script would make it lose its value. So, we need to keep its use, less yet enough, so that our writing can look special with the right punctuation marks.

•  If Sentences Cannot Be Related Avoid Semicolons

You don’t have to connect every sentence in a paragraph together. If two sentences are related and are influencing each other in some way, only then you are supposed to link them together. If the sentences look better separately and have no influence on each other, keep them unconnected.

For Example: “Yesterday, the senator was elected; he’s the third in line for the kingdom’s throne.”

Here, it looks like the sentences should be written differently because they might be about the same person, but there is no relation in the sentences. They should be different. So, make use of the period and make your document correct.

It should be:

“Yesterday, the senator was elected. He is also the third in line for the kingdom’s throne.”

• Don’t Use Where a Comma Can Work Perfectly

Another place where you shouldn’t use the semi colon excessively is where you can perfectly make sense of a sentence by using a comma. If a comma works in connecting two clauses, don’t exaggerate its relation by adding in a semicolon.

For Example: “The ballerinas were performing on stage; as the high judge was seen arriving.”

You can connect these sentences effortlessly by adding a comma. This way, you are adding more emphasis on both parts of the sentence. When a comma looks more professional here and makes it look like this:

“The ballerinas were performing on stage, as the high judge was seen arriving.”

This looks more expertly written and gives your writing the polish it required!

In order to make a document more graceful and elegant with the proper use of grammar and punctuation. It is essential that you learn the small, subtle yet impactful differences between the meaning behind the punctuation marks. You know how a period completely makes a sentences stop, how a comma adds a little pause, and how a semicolon works as the in-between. You also know that the colon, the brother of the semicolon has a completely different task. So, when you understand them entirely, you won’t require any grammar tool to correct you!

Wrapping Up

We hope that now you know how to sound more grammatically correct. When you know when to use a semicolon precisely and other punctuation marks in a document, no one can call you out on not sounding smart, because, I can bet you that no other document will look more professional and graceful.

So, now you can go and start on the script of 2022 that you were putting off for so long. This guide will help you keep all your sentence structures proper and your entire script will be completed without a hitch!