Basic Semicolon RulesENGLISH 1010-17

PROFESSOR NATHAN PRICE

Presented by:Jasmine Crespo

Tyler ParkJiapei Xia

Rule 1.

• A semicolon can replace a period if a writer wishes to narrow the gap between two closely linked sentences. • Incorrect Ex. The brown cat jumped over the wall; however, we are

out of milk. • Correct Ex. Call me tomorrow; you can give me an answer then.

• Explanation: The incorrect example has a semicolon joining two unrelated sentences. Semicolon can only replace periods with closely related sentences.

Rule 2.

• Use a semicolon before words and terms like Namely, However, and Therefore. • Incorrect Ex. However; I dislike kuku clocks.

• Correct Ex. I like clocks; however, I dislike kuku clocks.

• Explanation: The first example is incorrect because the semicolon was placed in the incorrect position.

Rule 3.

• Use a semicolon to separate units of a series when one or more of the units contains commas. • Incorrect Ex. Thomas met several people from Moscow, Russia,

Richfield, New Jersey, Long Beach, California, and Cedar City, Utah. • Correct Ex. Thomas met several people from Moscow, Russia;

Richfield, New Jersey; Long Beach, California; and Cedar City, Utah.

• Explanation: The reason why the first example is incorrect is because it does not distinguish individual places from one another.

Rule 4.

• A semicolon may be used between independent clauses joined by a connector, such as and, but, or, nor, etc., when one or more commas appear in the first clause. • Incorrect Ex. When I finish here, and I will soon, I’ll be glad to help

out, and that is a promise I will keep.• Correct Ex. When I finish here, and I will soon, I’ll be glad to help

out; and that is a promise I will keep.

• Explanation: The incorrect example is a run on sentence. By using a semicolon, the correct example connects the two related phrases.

Works Cited

• “Semicolons” from The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation. By Jane Straus. May 18, 1954- February 25, 2011. From GrammarBook.com