Rules on Semi-colons

Notes on Semicolons

Semi-colon- A stylistic mark that is never necessary: it takes the place of a comma or a period.

1.     To join two or more closely related sentences or complete statements.

EX: The black Saturn slid into a snow blank; the driver got out reciting: “The moon, a silver slither of an eighth note.”

I went to work; I had a quick lunch; I came straight home.

Note: Both of these sentences could be written with a comma.

The black Saturn slid into a snow bank, and the driver got out reciting: “The moon, a silver slither of an eighth note.”

2.     To connect interrelated ideas or thoughts

Example: In France, we bought tea; in Amsterdam, coffee; in America coke-cola, and apple juice in Ireland.

3.     A semi-colon may replace a comma to separate items of a list when additional commas may confuse the reader.

Example: The winning numbers were 1,2,3; 3,663; 8,462 and 2,370; Dean had all of them.

Mr. Green, the plumber (who did it with a wrench); George Jefferson, the laundry-mat owner; and  Scooby Doo, the rabid mutt, were all at the school cookout.