{"id":32029,"date":"2021-09-09T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-09T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/crowdcontent.com\/blog\/?p=32029"},"modified":"2024-04-25T10:35:24","modified_gmt":"2024-04-25T10:35:24","slug":"how-to-use-a-semicolon-guide-examples","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crowdcontent.com\/blog\/writers-hub\/how-to-use-a-semicolon-guide-examples\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Use a Semicolon: Guide & Examples"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

These days, you’re more likely to see a semicolon winking at you in casual messages than in an article or blog post. Many writers are unsure of how to use a semicolon; it’s easier to simply avoid it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Notice what we just did? \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you understand how a semicolon works, this endearing little symbol can lend all kinds of variety and rhythm to your writing. Let’s look at the semicolon in action; it’s an easy way to expand your punctuation arsenal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What’s a Semicolon?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A semicolon is a punctuation mark that looks like it’s part colon, part comma. Italian publisher Aldus Manutius is credited with creating the semicolon<\/a>, and first put it to work in an essay by Pietro Bembo in 1494.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Proofreading<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Semicolons are used in two ways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. To join two independent clauses<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. To separate items in a complex list<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Why Are Semicolons Confusing?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    People are often unsure how to use semicolons because of their similarity to other punctuation marks. Merriam-Webster may describe semicolons best:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    “Like a comma, it can separate elements in a series. Like a period or colon, it often marks the end of a complete clause (that is, a sentence part that has its own subject and verb). And like a colon, it signals that what follows it is closely related to what comes before it.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Comma, period, semicolon \u2014 are we confusing things more?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Hang tight. We’re going to walk through examples of the same sentence written with different punctuation to better clarify the roles of these marks. Once you understand the mechanics of how to use a semicolon, you can express thoughts in all kinds of ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How to Use a Semicolon<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    1. Using a Semicolon to Join Independent Clauses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Let’s begin with a quick grammar refresher. When you’ve got a group of words that includes a subject and verb, expressing a complete thought, you’ve got an independent clause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You can write independent clauses as separate sentences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n