The following examples show a semicolon used to separate two sentences that are related but grammatically independent:
Richard likes cake; Susan likes salad.
Bill was going bald; his hair was falling out.
I didn’t see the step; I’ve now got a bandage on my head.
The semicolon can be used like a comma in lists of items, especially when the list is complicated:
She planned to visit five locations: Soho, London; Brighton & Hove; New York, Mumbai and Hong Kong.
To play the piano well you need: a strong pair of hands; the ability to read music; and a certain passion to perform.
Learn more about using the semicolon.
Some magnificent examples of surely the most beautiful of all punctuation marks. It’s difficult not to feel humbled, even ashamed, for having the privilege to read such sublime punctuation.
Thanks for helping me with my homework il be back next week (:
Actually, in the last example a colon should first be used to introduce the list. The semicolon can then be used to separate list items.
Thanks Kelly, we agree that would be an improvement. That’s now been fixed.
I would think that commas would suffice within the list in the last example; wouldn’t you?
wrong!! the first sentence (on the last example) isn’t an independent clause on its own, so a colon shouldn’t be there! Also’ “Bill was going bald; his hair was falling out” is incorrect; this should have a colon in place of the semicolon as the second clause is describing the first.
You actually don’t need a colon or semicolons in that particular sentence. Typically (in American English, anyway), a colon comes at the end of an independent clause and precedes any list associated with that clause. If the series of items in the list contain interior commas, then semicolons should be used to separate the items; otherwise, a comma works just fine.
To play the piano well, you need the following: nimble hands, a sense of rhythm, and the willingness to make mistakes.
He was traveling to the following cities: Madrid, Spain; Worcestershire, England; and Portland, Maine.
Hi Guys, i’m having a university exams this second semester. And my book methodology of research includes the punctuations marks. Colon, semi colon, parenthesis, dash…etc.
Enrich me with needed clear marks of these.
And thanx 🙂
int main(void)
{
int x, y;
x = 1; y = 2; // Two statements are separated by the semicolon
std::cout << x << std::endl;
while (wait_event()) ;
return 0;
}
(my name is actually tim) Depending on what language you are using, semicolons will be used at the end of each line
Thanks for helping me with my homework
Most of the example of semi colon are so difficult . so please use easy examples.
Most of the examples of semi colon are too difficult to tackle . so please use easy examples
In this sentence, “To play the piano well you need: a strong pair of hands; the ability to read music; and a certain passion to perform”, you separated the verb from a list of direct objects. The colon should come after an independent clause. You have a fragment before the colon.
You can call me: Tim, Timothy, or Timmy; however, i prefer Tim the best.
I need to use a semicolon on of my homework assignments any one think they can help?
Thank you for helping me with my homework.
Is this correct? I adore puppies; I like to cuddle with them.