The Semicolon ;

The semicolon tells readers that two closely related ideas should be thought of together. It is a stronger punctuation mark than a
comma, which signifies a pause; but the semicolon is not as strong as a period, which signifies a complete stop. Understanding the use
of semicolons will help you avoid fundamental writing errors, such as the comma splice and the run-on sentence. The most basic use
of the semicolon occurs in compound sentences. Many business and professional communicators use a comma when they should be
using a semicolon. Study the following examples to make sure you don’t make this error.

Independent Clauses without Conjunctions

A semicolon connects two independent clauses. That is, the two parts on either side of the semicolon must be able to stand alone;
they must also be closely related in theme. For instance, we can fix the previous example by using a semicolon.

Earl walked to school; he later ate his lunch.

Tom earned his bachelor’s degree last summer; his sister earned hers in the fall.
I have to admit that I hate spending Christmas with your parents; they always give me a ridiculous sweater and expect me to
wear it.

Note:
Don’t capitalize the word following a semicolon unless it is a proper noun.

What does it mean to be “closely related in meaning”? Everyone agrees that I like milk; my husband prefers cola is correct. But what
about I like milk; my husband likes bicycling? This sentence looks very strange, but the question of whether the two parts are “closely
related” is related to context. If someone had just asked the couple, “What are your very favorite things in the world?”, then I like
milk; my husband likes bicycling could indeed be a sensible answer.

When you worry about clauses being closely related in meaning, what you are really trying to avoid is this:

WRONG: The volcano devastated the town; there was still hope.

This sentence violates the “closely related in meaning” rule because it needs a word such as although, but, or however

RIGHT: The volcano devastated the town; however, there was still hope.

The contrasting meaning of the two clauses demands a contrasting conjunction. This rule is not specific to sentences containing
semicolons. In any sentence, if but, however, or an equivalent word is needed, it is incorrect to leave it out.

If it seems that the author originally meant to subordinate one part to the other, you must preserve this intent.

RIGHT: The dam has created dead zones, WHERE fish have disappeared.
WRONG: The dame has created dead zones; fish have disappeared.

In the example above, the writer seems to be saying that fish all over the world have disappeared. The first example is appropriately
limited to the dead zones.

Independent Clauses with Coordinating Conjunctions

Here is another important rule: do not use a semicolon before and or but. A simple comma will do. For example:

WRONG: He applied to Harvard Business School; but he forgot to send his GMAT score.
WRONG: I like beer; and my grandmother likes bourbon.

In both cases, a comma should be used instead. Some people would use nothing at all in the second case, since the sentence is so
short—this is a matter of style.

Independent Clauses with Conjunctive Adverbs or Transitional Phrases

Conjunctive Adverbs are words that act as a transition between independent clauses by showing comparison, contrast, cause-effect,
sequence, or other relationships.

Examples: also, furthermore, moreover, finally, thus, hence, therefore, consequently, subsequently, otherwise, conversely, however,
nonetheless, nevertheless, meanwhile, similarly

Transitional phrases have the same function as conjunctive adverbs.

Examples: for example, for instance, additionally, in addition, on the other hand, on the contrary, as a matter of fact, after all, as a
result, in conclusion, in other words
The semicolon is often followed by a conjunctive adverb or other transition expression. In this way, we can modify the equal
relationship that a bare semicolon implies. Note that these transitional elements are not true conjunctions like and. As a result, you
must use semicolons, not commas, to join the sentences.

WRONG: Raw oysters are delicious, however, you should be careful where you buy them.
RIGHT: Raw oysters are delicious; however, you should be careful where you buy them.

WRONG: Andrew and Lisa are inseparable, therefore, we never see them apart.
RIGHT: Andrew and Lisa are inseparable; therefore, we never see them apart.

Introductory Expressions such as namely, for instance, and that is

When introductory expressions (such as namely, for instance, that is, and for example) immediately follow independent clauses, they
may be preceded by either commas or semicolons. Generally, if the words following the introductory expression form a series or an
independent clause, use a semicolon before the introductory expression and a comma after.

Google offers unique benefits to its employees; for instance, an onsite hair stylist, meals prepared by gourmet chefs, financial
planning classes, shuttle service, and an outdoor volleyball court. (A semicolon is used because for instance introduces a
series.)
I love listening to many kinds of music; namely, classical, rock, rap, and pop.
Several books give tips for starting your own business; for example, Pamela Slim and Guy Kawasaki’s Escape From Cubicle
Nation is an excellent resource. (A semicolon is used because for example introduces an independent clause.)

If the list or explanation that follows the introductory expression is not a series or an independent clause, use commas before and
after the introductory expression.

We are proposing many new additions to the health care package, for example, holistic medicine and chiropractic benefits.
(A comma is used because for example introduces neither a series nor an independent clause.)

We value one trait in our employees above all others, i.e., integrity. (A comma is used because i.e. introduces neither a series
nor an independent clause.)

Note:
i.e. means that is; e.g. means for example.

These same introductory expressions may introduce parenthetical words within sentences. Commas usually punctuate individual
items introduced parenthetically within sentences. If the introductory expression introduces several items punctuated by internal
commas, then use dashes or parentheses.

Series with Internal Commas

A minor use of the semicolon is to separate items that themselves contain commas.

WRONG: I listen to Earth, Wind & Fire, Wow, Owls, and Blood, Sweat & Tears.
RIGHT: I listen to Earth, Wind & Fire; Wow, Owls; and Blood, Sweat & Tears.

WRONG: This month, I will be flying to Tokyo, Japan, Sydney, Australia, and Ontario, Canada.
RIGHT: This month, I will be flying to Tokyo, Japan; Sydney, Australia; and Ontario, Canada.

If you have a name with a title (like a job title: Frank Jones, CEO), then the name will be separated from the job title by a comma. But
if you have a list of names and titles, the name-title combinations are separated by semi-colons. Think about it: without the semi-
colons, you'd have commas all over, and you'd have a hard time figuring out which name goes with which title.

WRONG: The newly-elected student council officers were: Johnny, president, Judy, vice-president, Jimmy, secretary, and
Jessica, treasurer.
RIGHT: The newly-elected student council officers were: Johnny, president; Judy, vice-president; Jimmy, secretary; and
Jessica, treasurer.
Series with Complete Thoughts
Semicolons are also used to separate three or more independent clauses that appear in a series.

The first step consists of surveying all available information related to the company objective so that an understanding of all
problems can be reached; the second step involves interviewing consumers, wholesalers, and retailers; and the third step
consists of developing a research design in which the actual methods and procedures to be used are indicated.

A series of short independent clauses, however, may be separated by commas.

Amazon.com was founded in 1994, it unveiled its Web site in 1995, and it went public in 1997.

Semicolons vs. Colons

You may realize that, because colons can go before explanations, either a colon or a semicolon would work in some sentences.

RIGHT: Bill was tormented; the Packers lost again.

RIGHT: Bill was tormented: the Packers lost again.

Final Note
Grammar experts would say that using a colon would actually give more information, because the colon would make it clear that the
Packers’ loss was the cause of Bill’s torment, whereas the semicolon just joins two related ideas, without being as clear about how the
ideas are related.

Semicolons are like spices; they shouldn’t be overused. As spices complement the main ingredients in a dish, semicolons should
complement your writing—not overpower it. When used correctly, semicolons can add variety and increased readability to your
writing.

Pop Quiz!
True or False: The sentence "The dog asked for a treat; he gave it one" correctly uses a semicolon to join two independent clauses.

Finally, there are a few other uses of semicolons, such as punctuating a list in which the individual items already have commas (Our
firm will be opening offices in Portland, Maine; Detroit, Michigan; and Tampa, Florida.)

Drill— Correct the Punctuation Errors

Determine whether the sentence has an error and circle “Correct” or “Incorrect.”

1. The cobblestone streets lent a certain historic charm; but they cost the city a mint to maintain. CORRECT/INCORRECT

2. I was offended; we left. CORRECT/INCORRECT

3. The 1950s in America were a period of prosperity and consumerism; programs such as The Donna Reed Show, Leave it to Beaver,
and Father Knows Best portrayed comfortable suburban lifestyles made easier by modern appliances. CORRECT/INCORRECT

4. Although he won the election by a landslide; international bodies suspect serious irregularities in the voting process.
CORRECT/INCORRECT

5. He needs a kidney transplant; without it, he'll die. CORRECT/INCORRECT

The Colon :
The colon is used to introduce identifications, examples, and quotations.

Identification/Explanation
Use a colon to separate two independent clauses if the second clause explains, illustrates, or supplements the first.

I was fired today: my boss caught me trying to steal a laser printer.

This sentence is completely correct. The first part is able to stand alone. The second part (stealing) explains the first part (getting fired).

Consider these other examples.

Today they face a further threat to their survival: starvation.

There are numerous variables that can contribute toward an increasing totalitarianism within a new religious movement: one
obvious one is physical isolation.

Note: Whatever needs explanation should be placed as close to the colon as possible.

WORSE: Three factors affect the rate of a reaction: concentration, surface area, and temperature.
BETTER: The rate of a reaction is affected by three factors: concentration, surface area, and temperature.

Notice that this principle helps justify the use of the passive voice in the second example.

You can put a main clause after a colon as well. The key is that this clause must explain what precedes the colon—perhaps the entire
preceding clause.

On January 1, 2000, the national mood was completely different from what it would become just a few years later: at the
turn of the century, given a seemingly unstoppable stock market and a seemingly peaceful world, the country was content.

The words after the colon, at the turn of the century . . . was content, can stand along as a sentence. They serve to explain the entire
clause that comes before the colon (a clause that asserts an upcoming change in the national mood, as of the first of the year 2000).

Do not confuse the semicolon (;) with the colon (:). The semicolon connects two related independent clauses, but the second does
not necessarily explain the first. In contrast, the colon always connects a sentence with a further explanation.

Examples/Lists
Use a colon after an independent clause that introduces one item, two items, or a list of items. A list may be shown vertically or
horizontally in sentence form and is usually introduced by such words as the following, as follows, these, or thus. A colon is also used
when words like these are implied but not stated.

Text messages are now used to deliver the following types of information: medical, financial, educational, and political.
(Formal list with introductory expression stated)

When phrases such as for example, as follows, namely, and for instance are not used, a colon is used.

This recipe requires only three ingredients: sardines, tomato sauce, and olive oil.
There were three reasons for his failure: laziness, ill health, and lack of training.

Note: The part of the sentence before the colon must be able to stand alone (that is, it must be an independent clause). If the verb of
the first unit directly precedes the list, no colon is used.

WRONG: I am going to the store to get: sardines, tomato sauce, and olive oil.
WRONG: I love listening to: classical, rock, rap, and pop music.

I am going to the store to get and I love listening to are not able to stand alone as complete sentences. The example sentences are
thus incorrect. They can be fixed by simply removing the colon. A good rule is that, if you don’t need any punctuation there at all, a
colon is wrong.

I am going to the store to get sardines, tomato sauce, and olive oil.
I love listening to many kinds of music: classical, rock, rap, and pop.
The three reasons for his failure were laziness, ill health, and lack of training.

Sometimes, a list contains only one item. This is completely fine.

I only like one kind of music: hip-hop.

Long Quotations
Use a colon to introduce long one-sentence quotations and quotations of two or more sentences. Direct quotations after a colon begin
with a capital letter. Remember to enclose the quotation in quotation marks.
Michael Gerber said: “My experience has shown me that the people who are exceptionally good in business aren’t so because
of what they know but because of their insatiable need to know more.”
Longer quotations that contain two or more sentences (and will take up more than three lines) are placed in a separate paragraph
without quotation marks. Indent the left and right margins to set the quote apart from its introductory sentence and any sentence
that follows.
Patricia T. O’Connor, editor at The New York Times Book Review, explains why grammar is so difficult for many people:
We all come from the factory wired for language. By the time we know what it is, we’ve got it. Toddlers
don’t think about language; they just talk. Grammar is a later addition, an ever evolving set of rules for using
words in ways that we can all agree upon. But the laws of grammar come and go. English today isn’t what
it was a hundred years ago, and it’s not what it will be a hundred years from now.
Incomplete quotations not interrupting the flow of a sentence require no colon, no comma, and no initial capital letter.
The River Walk area of San Antonio is sometimes described as “the Venice of the Southwest.”
Capitalization Following Colons
Do not capitalize the first letter of an independent clause following a colon if that clause explains or supplements the first one (unless,
of course, the first word is a proper noun).
Special Olympics has one overriding mission: through the power of sport, Special Olympics strives to create a better world by
fostering the acceptance and inclusion of all people.
The graduates have something special to look forward to: Bill Gates will be delivering their commencement address.
When a colon is used to introduce a series in sentence format, do not capitalize the first word after the colon unless it is a proper
noun.
The six Cs of effective business communication are the following: clarity, courtesy, conciseness, completeness, correctness,
and confidence.
These Montana cities will receive heavy promotional advertising: Butte, Great Falls, Helena, and Whitefish.
Capitalize the first letter of an independent clause following a colon if that clause states a formal rule or principle as a complete
sentence.
In business the Golden Rule is often stated in the following way: He with the gold rules.
For a quotation following a colon, capitalize the first letter of the quotation.
Samuel Smiles, a Scottish author and reformer, once said: “Lost wealth may be replaced by industry, lost knowledge by study,
lost health by temperance or medicine, but lost time is gone forever.”

Drill — Examine the Colon

Determine whether the sentence has an error and circle “Correct” or “Incorrect.”

1. I have really enjoyed hearing you lecture about: grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. CORRECT/INCORRECT

2. We will do a soft launch of our new product in two markets: Los Angeles and New York. CORRECT/INCORRECT

3. It can hardly be said that the nation's government was negligent in planning for such a disaster: there had never been volcanic
eruption in the region in the whole of recorded history. CORRECT/INCORRECT

4. The protest was effective, but not without cost: sixteen people died. CORRECT/INCORRECT

5. He said something absolutely outrageous: "Shut up, Mr. President." CORRECT/INCORRECT

The Hyphen -
Hyphens occur in compound adjectives (e.g., fifteen-year-old chair, well-known politician), compound numbers (e.g.,
twenty-one flags, ninety-nine bottles on the wall), and fractions (e.g., three-fourths of the class). Hyphens are not the
same as dashes. Hyphens ( - ) are shorter. They join words together with no spaces before or after the hyphen.

To Form Compound Words

Use the hyphen to form compound nouns, verbs, and adjectives.

The air-conditioning in our building works well during the summer. (Compound noun)
The attorney will cross-examine the witness. (Compound verb)
She is hoping to get a full-time job. (Compound adjective with permanent hyphenation)
We will be trying out a voice-activated input system. (Compound adjective with temporary hyphenation)
Please print these announcements on 8 ½- by 11-inch bond paper. (Compound adjective with common ending
inch)

To Form Words With Prefixes

Use hyphens in words with prefixes such as ex, self, or quasi.

The keynote speaker was ex-President Bush.

She has been working hard to improve her self-esteem.
Mariet is our quasi-official leader.

Do not hyphenate most words that begin with prefixes such as anti, bi, co, extra, inter, micro, mini, multi, mid, non, over,
under, post, pre, re, semi, or un unless the unhyphenated word could be confused with another word. Also use a hyphen
when the prefix is added to a word that starts with a capital (anti-American, non-European).

It is unnerving that so many of our projects are underfunded.

My coworkers have reexamined our interoffice communication practices.
More nondiscriminatory laws should be passed.
When her employment contract expires, Brenda plans to re-sign.
(Hyphenate to avoid confusing with resign.)

When writing family titles, hyphenate words that contain ex, great, or in-law. Do not hyphenate words that contain step,
half, or grand.

His ex-wife still keeps in touch with his grandparents.

Your mother-in-law looks just like her great-aunt.
Is he your stepbrother or your half brother?

To Form Compound Numbers

Use the hyphen to form compound numbers between twenty-one and ninety-nine when written in word form.

Eighty-six applicants passed the entry exam.

To Divide a Word Over Two Lines

Use a hyphen when you must divide a word over two lines. However, because divided words can be confusing, use this
technique sparingly.

We hope to get a response by late tomorrow from Dan Knox, superintendent of the school district.
The Dash – —
Do not confuse the hyphen with the dash. The dash is often used to show emphasis. As an emphatic punctuation mark, however,
the dash loses effectiveness when it is overused.

Dashes are longer, and come in two varieties, the en dash (the width of a letter n) and the em dash (the width of a letter m).
The en dash is used for things such as “pages 15–34.” Let’s talk about the em dash. (For the rest of this lesson, when we say
dash, we mean em dash)

A dash is a flexible punctuation mark that can be used to replace an emphatic comma, semicolon, or colon.

By January 2, 2000, the so-called “Y2K problem” was already widely considered a joke—although the reason for the
non-event was the huge corporate and governmental investment in prior countermeasures.

In the case above, either a comma or a dash would be correct.

To Set Off Parenthetical Elements and Appositives

Within a sentence, parenthetical elements and appositives are usually set off by commas. If, however, the parenthetical element
or appositive itself contains internal commas, use dashes (or parentheses) to set it off.

My three best friends—Danny, Jimmy, and Joey—and I went skiing.

If you used commas in this sentence, you might think that seven people were going skiing.

Here are some other examples.

Sources of raw materials—farming, mining, fishing, and forestry—are all dependent on energy.
Four legal assistants—Priscilla Alvarez, Vicki Evans, Yoshiki Ono, and Edward Botsko—received cash bonuses for
outstanding service.

You can place any parenthetical element between dashes instead of commas. However, remember that doing so will emphasize
the parenthetical element.

All employees—and that includes Ann Patterson—must work overtime this weekend.

To Indicate an Interruption or Afterthought

Dashes add an additional thought to an independent clause. A set of two dashes is used in much the same way as you use a set
of commas or pair of parentheses to include an interrupting thought. Used for this purpose, dashes are considered stronger
than commas or parentheses. However, sentences with abrupt changes of thought or with appended afterthoughts can usually
be improved through rewriting.

We will refund your money—no questions asked—if you are not completely satisfied. (Interruption of thought)
You can submit your report on Friday—no, we must have it by Thursday at the latest. (Abrupt change of thought)
The preacher gave an entire sermon against eating beans—I think he's gone mad!
The company leadership is faltering—the CEO embarrassed himself on the news just last night— and the investors are
restless.

To Set Off a Summarizing Statement

Use a dash (not a colon) to separate an introductory list from a summarizing statement.

Flexibility, initiative, intelligence—these are the qualities we seek in all employees.

Facebook, Twitter, YouTube—these are some of the most frequently used social networking tools.

To Attribute a Quotation
Place a dash between a quotation and its source.

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”—Mahatma Gandhi
“Never, never, never, never give up.”—Winston Churchill
To Explain
You can also use the dash to restate or explain an earlier part of the sentence. Unlike the colon, the dash does not need
to be immediately preceded by the part needing explanation.

Post-MBA compensation for investment bankers tends to surge far ahead of that for management consultants—
by tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of dollars a year.

The phrase after the dash (by tens... a year) explains the word far in the phrase far ahead. In comparison, a colon would
not work so well here.

In short, you cannot really go wrong with a dash!

When you see dashes, don’t freak out. It’s actually fairly difficult for dashes themselves to be incorrect, since their very
purpose is to allow one thought to interrupt another (My mother is coming—Oh no!—and I haven’t cleaned the house).
On tests, phrases in dashes are often there to provide a huge distraction that keeps you from seeing the real grammatical
issues in the sentence.

When you are given a sentence using a set of dashes, you should attempt to remove the dashes and whatever is in
between them and see whether the sentence still makes sense (it’s fine if the sentence needs a comma once you’ve
mentally removed all that text). Here’s the example from above:

RIGHT: The company leadership is faltering—the CEO embarrassed himself on the news just last night—and the
investors are restless.

TEST IT: The company leadership is faltering—the CEO embarrassed himself on the news just last night—and the
investors are restless.

This sentence works very nicely without the dashes and the content between them. Try this sentence:

RIGHT OR WRONG? Every one of the researchers—none of whom has ever accomplished anything of merit—have
introduced errors and irregularities into the data.

TEST IT: Every one of the researchers—none of whom has ever accomplished anything of merit—have introduced
errors and irregularities into the data.

This sentence is wrong! The subject is every one, which is singular and cannot take the plural verb have. The completed
sentence should read:

RIGHT: Every one of the researchers—none of whom has ever accomplished anything of merit—has introduced
errors and irregularities into the data.

Note that the problem was not with the dashes themselves. The dashes were merely masking one of the types of
grammatical errors you’ve already learned about.

Pop Quiz!
True or False: A colon is not needed when a list is introduced with the word including.

RIGHT: He has written a range of moral issues, including poverty, globalization, and euthanasia.
RIGHT: He has written a range of moral issues: poverty, globalization, and euthanasia.
Drill — Correct More Punctuation Errors
Each sentence below has a blank within the text. Circle your answer based on which would be correct in that spot: a colon,
a semicolon, either a colon or a semicolon, or nothing at all.

1. I have always loved hockey__ my dad is from Canada. COLON/SEMICOLON/EITHER/NOTHING

2. The investors are demanding that the board be replaced__ however, we think we can convince the major players
otherwise. COLON/SEMICOLON/EITHER/NOTHING

3. The administration has introduced numerous cost-saving measures, such as ___ cutting less popular classes, reducing
opening hours in libraries and other buildings, and using work-study labor wherever possible.
COLON/SEMICOLON/EITHER/NOTHING

4. I only need one thing from you ___ silence. COLON/SEMICOLON/EITHER/NOTHING

5. Many law school graduates are having serious trouble finding suitable employment ___ law schools are being criticized
for a lack of transparency in releasing information about the employment rates of previous years' graduates.
COLON/SEMICOLON/EITHER/NOTHING