Our Friend, the semicolon (They have feelings too.)

Let’s start with a simple sentence: Grandma stays up too late.

Now let’s expand on that a bit: Grandma stays up too late. She’s afraid she is going to miss something. This is ok. Two independent clauses (or ideas), separated by a period.

What if we try to combine the two ideas? Grandma stays up too late, she’s afraid she’s going to miss something. Something is wrong. We connected two independent clauses with only a comma.

Oh no! the dreaded… COMMA SPLICE!!!

so how do we fix it, Mrs. richard?

We could insert a coordinating conjunction: Grandma is afraid she is missing something, so she stays up too late. This is better. Not the comma that accompanies the coordinating conjunction.

We could try subordinating one of these ideas: Grandma stays up too late because she’s afraid she’s going to miss something. Noticed that the comma disappeared. One idea (the second one) now depends on the other; it has become a dependent clause.

But let’s try something else. Enter the SEMICOLON!

Let’s trying using a semicolon in this sentence. Grandma stays up too late; she’s afraid she’s going to miss something. Notice there is no conjunction used with this semicolon- either subordinating or subordinating. Just a semicolon, all by itself.

Sometimes semicolons are accompanied by conjunctive adverbs: What are conjunctive adverbs? Words such as however, moreover, therefore, nevertheless, consequently, and as a result. Grandma is afraid she’s going to miss something; as a result, she stays up too late.

Notice the pattern: ; as a result, Semicolon + conjunctive adverb + comma This is a typical construction with semicolons.

There is one other use of the semicolon: To help us sort out monster lists, like this one: The committee included Peter Wursthorn, Professor of Mathematics, from Marlborough, Connecticut, Virginia Villa, Professor of English, from Hartford, Connecticut, Paul Creech, Director of Rad-Tech, from Essex, Connecticut, and Joan Leach, Professor of Nursing, from Farmington, Connecticut.

Be careful where you insert semicolons in this sentence: The committee included Peter Wursthorn, Professor of Mathematics, from Marlborough, Connecticut; Virginia Villa, Professor of English, from Hartford, Connecticut ; Paul Creech, Director of Rad-Tech, from Essex, Connecticut; and Joan Leach, Professor of Nursing, from Farmington, Connecticut.

Show me your skills! Each person will write three sentences: 1) Using a semicolon between two independent clauses. 2) Using a semicolon and a conjunctive adverb. 3) Using a semicolon to sort out a monster list.