Semicolon between independent clauses

When related independent clauses appear in one sentence, they are ordinarily linked with a comma and a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet). The coordinating conjunction signals the relation between the clauses.

Example sentence: Spring training begins in late February, and the season opener is in early April.

If the two independent clauses are closely related and the relation is clear without the conjunction, the clauses may be linked with a semicolon instead.

Example sentence: Spring training begins in late February; the season opener is in early April.

A semicolon must be used whenever a coordinating conjunction has been omitted between independent clauses. To use merely a comma creates a kind of run-on sentence known as a comma splice.

Example sentence with editing. Original sentence: In 1800, a traveler needed six weeks to get from New York City to Chicago, in 1960, the trip by railroad took two days. Revised sentence: In 1800, a traveler needed six weeks to get from New York City to Chicago; in 1960, the trip by railroad took two days.

Occasionally, a semicolon may be used to emphasize a sharp contrast or a firm distinction between clauses joined with a coordinating conjunction.

Example sentence: We hate some persons because we do not know them; and will not know them because we hate them.

Exercise: The semicolon and the comma 1

Exercise: The semicolon and the comma 2

Exercise: The colon, the semicolon, and the comma

Related topic:

Run-on sentences

independent clause A word group containing a subject and a verb that can or does stand alone as a sentence.

run-on sentence An error in which a sentence contains two or more clauses that have not been joined correctly.