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• A semicolon is a punctuation mark that looks like this ;

• When used correctly the semicolon can make writing clearer

• The semicolon can help you join closely connected ideas in a sentence

• It can also break up a list that contains longer phrases

The most common way to use a semicolon is to help join closely connected ideas in a sentence. These sections must be independent and complete sentences, but closely linked in some way:

"Sandip spent three hours in the library; he couldn’t find the book he wanted."

A semicolon is often used to replace a coordinating conjunction like 'and' or 'but'. The sentence about Sandip could have been written like this:

"Sandip spent three hours in the library but he couldn’t find the book he wanted."

A full stop could often be used instead of a semicolon, but the effect on the reader would change.

• "It was the best of times. It was the worst of times."
• "It was the best of times; it was the worst of times."

The statement has a different impact with a semicolon because the semicolon closely connects the ideas into one sentence to suggest that the time was good and bad simultaneously. In the first version it sounds more like a contradiction.

A conjunctive adverb connects ideas in a sentence:

• however
• instead
• therefore
• meanwhile
• consequently
• accordingly
• also

If a conjunctive adverb is used to link two sentences, a semicolon must be used before the conjunctive adverb:

"Sandip spent three hours in the library; however he couldn’t find the book he wanted."

Semicolons can also be used when writing a list. In most lists, it’s enough to use commas to separate the items:

"When I go to the seaside, I make sure I have my sunglasses, suncream, sandals and a beach towel."

However, if the list is more complicated semicolons may be needed to make the list clear for the reader:

"When I pack for holiday, I make sure I have my passport, tickets and a book for the airport; sunglasses, suncream, sandals and a beach towel for the beach; and foreign currency."

The semicolons are added to signal to the reader which objects are grouped together and make the overall list clearer.

Think of a semicolon as being like balancing scales. Both sides of the scale must be a main clause or a full sentence on their own.

Don't use a semicolon instead of a comma to join a subordinate clause:

• "As the weather gets colder; I like to put more food out for the birds." - is incorrect.
• "As the weather gets colder, I like to put more food out for the birds." - is correct.

A comma is needed here, not a semicolon. The first part of the sentence is known as a 'subordinate clause' because it is dependent. It does not make sense on its own and needs to be closely linked to the main part of the sentence.

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