Rules of the Semicolon
Look at that semicolon above appearing so regal.
May I confess?
I didn’t how to use it until I was in my third decade. Even worse — once I learned how, I used it . . . everywhere.
I’m glad to report that I am much more reasonable now.
Here are the rules of the semicolon:
- Use a semicolon to combine two independent clauses (complete sentences) that are related in thought.
- The clauses must be independent (complete sentences that can stand on their own).
- Use the semicolon sparingly. Like exclamation points!
Here’s an example:
Some people love semicolons; other people find them pretentious.
Have a look at this short video by the Comma Queen for further explanation.
Thanks for reading! If you liked this post on the rules of the semicolon, you might like this one on supposed vs. suppose.
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