Semicolons are tricky beasts.
Like hearing someone trying to pronounce ‘Worcestershire’ who has never heard it, a semicolon in the wrong place will shine a massive spotlight on your ignorance.
However, three simple rules will help you master semicolons.
Rule 1: Don’t use them
A semicolon indicates a break that is stronger than a comma but weaker than a full stop.
However, if you are not sure how to use a semicolon, don’t use one.
Semicolons can add something extra to your writing but they are not essential.
You will still be able to write clearly without them.
So if you are not certain when to you use them, avoid them.
Rule 2: Use them to link clauses
Semicolons can be used to link two clauses when they could be cut into separate sentences but have a logical link.
The two clauses must be full clauses, meaning they must be able to stand independently on their own as sentences.
You could use a semicolon between the two clauses, they could be cut into two sentences or have a conjunction between them and make a single sentence.
For example:
The boy was tall; he was the tallest in his class.
The boy was tall. He was the tallest in his class.
The body was tall and he was the tallest in his class.
But you need to be careful with your semicolon use.
You could not use a semicolon in the following sentence because there is no verb in the second clause:
The boy was tall, the tallest in this class.
Rule 3: Use them in lists
The easiest way to use semicolons is in lists.
If you have a list with a lot of additional information in it, using too many commas will confuse your reader.
Compare these lists:
The winners were: John Doe, Brighton, Fred Bloggs, Glebe, and Jane Bull, Spotswood.
The winners were: John Doe, Brighton; Fred Bloggs, Glebe; and Jane Bull, Spotswood.
Using a semicolon will help separate items on your list and make it easier to read.
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