When to Use a Semicolon
- Semicolons separate items in a complex list. For example, The Council is comprised of ten members: three from Sydney, Australia; four from Auckland, New Zealand; two from Suva, Fiji; and one from Honiara, Solomon Islands.
- Semicolons join two closely related independent clauses.
Beside this, when should I use a semicolon?
Use a semicolon to join two related independent clauses in place of a comma and a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet). Make sure when you use the semicolon that the connection between the two independent clauses is clear without the coordinating conjunction.
Moreover, what does a semicolon look like?
The semicolon looks like a comma with a period above it, and this can be a good way to remember what it does. A semicolon creates more separation between thoughts than a comma does but less than a period does.
What are some examples of semicolons?
Examples of Semicolons: Joan likes eggs; Jennifer does not. The cat slept through the storm; the dog cowered under the bed. Semicolons are also used in a sentence when something stronger than a comma is needed.
When should you use a semicolon instead of a comma?
The semicolon is used when connecting two sentences or independent clauses. Unlike the comma, you do not use coordinating conjunctions, e.g., and, or, but, etc. A semicolon can also be used when connecting two independent clauses with conjunctive adverbs, e.g., however, therefore, thus, otherwise, etc.
What does a semicolon tattoo mean?
sentence is your life
What’s the meaning of semicolon?
: a punctuation mark; that can be used to separate parts of a sentence which need clearer separation than would be shown by a comma, to separate main clauses which have no conjunction between, and to separate phrases and clauses containing commas. More from Merriam-Webster on semicolon.
What is the correct punctuation for a list?
There are three punctuation marks involved in making a list in a sentence: the comma, colon, and semicolon. Which you use depends on how complex your list is. If you are writing a simple list, you can just insert a comma after each item.
What is the correct way to use a colon?
The colon is used to separate two independent clauses when the second explains or illustrates the first. In such usage, the colon functions in much the same way as the semicolon. As with the semicolon, do not capitalize the first word after the colon unless the word is ordinarily capitalized.
When listing Do you use a colon or semicolon?
Semicolon where a colon should go
Semicolons separate items within a list, while a colon precedes and introduces a list. He took three things on the hike; his lunch, his binoculars, and his trusty walking stick.
Where do you use a?
(The words “an” and “a” are known as articles.) The sound of a word’s first letter determines which to use. If the word starts with a vowel sound, you should use “an.” If it starts with a consonant sound, you should use “a.” For example: Buy a house in an hour.
How do semicolons work?
A semicolon is most commonly used to link (in a single sentence) two independent clauses that are closely related in thought. When a semicolon is used to join two or more ideas (parts) in a sentence, those ideas are then given equal position or rank.
What does a semicolon mean in algebra?
The main use of a semicolon in algebra is to separate variables from parameters in an equation. … The semicolon, then, allows someone to give you more information to either solve an equation or plot it on a chart. Typically, the semicolon is only used when writing equations as a “function of x” like this: f(x).
What is this sign called in English?
British vs. American English
| British English | American English | |
|---|---|---|
| The ” ! ” symbol is called | an exclamation mark | an exclamation point |
| The ” ( ) ” symbols are called | brackets | parentheses |
| The ” [ ] ” symbols are called | square brackets | brackets |
| The position of quotation marks | Joy means “happiness”. | Joy means “happiness.” |
