Rule 1: Connecting Independent Clauses
Use a semicolon to connect closely related sentences or independent clauses linked with a transition word or phrase.
Example: I went to the store; I was out of milk.
The second sentence clarifies the first; therefore, a semicolon is used.
Example: The second sentence clarifies the first; therefore, a semicolon is used.
"Therefore" is a transition word, and the two sentences relate.
Examples of transition words are as follows:
Therefore However Nevertheless Thus Finally Likewise
Moreover Consequently Instead Still Then Otherwise
Examples of transition phrases are as follows:
On the contrary As a result On the other hand
In other words For example In fact
Rule 2: Separating items in a list filled with internal punctuation
Example: Dianne, the maid; Theodore, the butler; Anastasia, the nanny; Richard, the cook; and Reginald, the chauffeur are the characters accused of murder in a detective novel.
Because of the commas separating the appositives from their nouns, semicolons are used to keep the sentence clear.
Exercise
1. I went to the store; and it was crowded.
store; it correct
2. Paul and Erin are engaged therefore, they came together.
engaged; therefore, correct
3. Mr. Smith goes to Washington every year; because in Washington there is great apple picking.
year because correct
4. Sparkles, the dog; Pickles, the cat; Bubbles, the fish; Scaly, the iguana; Rick, the snake; and Percival, the donkey, made the trip with Rebecca to San Diego.
snake, and correct
5. I felt, therefore, that I had a right to the property.
felt; therefore, correct
Answers
1. store; it (no need for the conjunction with a semicolon)
2. engaged; therefore, (without the semicolons, the sentence is a run-on)
3. year because (the clause following "because" is dependent)
4. correct
5. correct (the clause following "that" is dependent)