When to Use a Semicolon
* Connecting closely related ideas: The two clauses should be closely connected, either in meaning or because they build on each other. For example:
* "I went to the store; I needed to buy some milk."
* "The rain poured heavily; the streets were flooded."
* Creating a list with complex elements: When items in a list are already punctuated with commas, using semicolons to separate them can improve clarity. For example:
* "We visited Paris, France; London, England; and Rome, Italy."
* Before conjunctive adverbs: Conjunctive adverbs like "however," "therefore," "moreover," and "consequently" are often preceded by a semicolon. For example:
* "I tried to call her; however, I couldn't get through."
Words that Don't Require a Semicolon
* Conjunctions: Words like "and," "but," "or," "so," "for," "yet," and "nor" connect independent clauses and are often used with a comma.
* Dependent clauses: A dependent clause can't stand alone as a complete sentence and doesn't need a semicolon.
Examples:
* Correct: The rain poured heavily; the streets were flooded.
* Incorrect: The rain poured heavily, the streets were flooded. (Use a semicolon because the clauses are closely related.)
* Correct: We visited Paris, France; London, England; and Rome, Italy.
* Incorrect: We visited Paris, France, London, England, and Rome, Italy. (Use semicolons to separate the items in the list due to internal commas.)
* Correct: I tried to call her; however, I couldn't get through.
* Incorrect: I tried to call her, however, I couldn't get through. (Use a semicolon before the conjunctive adverb "however.")
In essence, use semicolons to create a strong connection between two closely related independent clauses, maintaining clarity and emphasizing the relationship between the ideas.