| Unit
Three |
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Use
a semicolon between two
closely related independent
clauses.
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Example:
- The cost of
living continues to rise; in
many nuclear homes, both
parents need to work in order
to make ends meet.
The two clauses, The cost of living
continues to rise and in many nuclear
homes, both parents need to work in order to make ends meet are closely related. They both relate to
family expenses.
Use
semicolons to separate items
in a series in a long
sentence.
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Example:
- In my final
year of university, I took two
400 level courses, which fulfilled my
senior level requirements; an
honors tutorial, in which I
conducted independent
research; and three
electives, which rounded out
my degree.
The series of
items, two 400 level
courses, an honors tutorial, and
three electives, in
this long sentence are separated by
semicolons.
Note that transitional
words and phrases between two
independent clauses should be
preceded by a semicolon and followed
by a comma.
The
following are some of those
transitional words and phrases:
| however |
besides |
therefore |
for example |
| besides |
thus |
moreover |
in addition |
| consequently |
finally |
as a result |
in fact |
| nevertheless |
instead |
on the other
hand |
furthermore |
Examples:
- I always enjoy watching The Flintstones;
however, I make sure that no one is watching
me.
- You have been
working too hard all these
hours; consequently, you feel like
going to bed as you as you
are home.
- Technology is
developing at an astronomical
rate; meanwhile, there is still no
cure for cancer.
Next to Semicolon: Test Yourself
Back to Comma: Exercise 3
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