| The Semicolon ( ; ) The semicolon is probably both the most avoided and easily avoided punctuation mark. They are easily avoided because some other form of punctuation can usually replace them. Semicolons may seem frightening to most, but they�re not that difficult to understand and use. The semicolon is used for three purposes: I. TO JOIN TWO CLOSELY RELATED INDEPENDENT CLAUSES Independent clauses can stand alone as separate sentences. By joining them with a semicolon into a compound sentence, however, we suggest that a relationship exists between the clauses�even without the use of a coordinating conjunction (and, or, but, so, for, nor, and yet). Readers should be able to infer the nature of the relationship. Examples: > I�m not laughing at you; I�m laughing with you. > I like getting to first base on a date; I love getting to third. > �Injustice is relatively easy to bear; what stings is justice.� �H.L. Mencken II. TO JOIN TWO INDEPENDENT CLAUSES SEPARATED BY A CONJUNCTIVE ADVERB This purpose is similar to the first, because the clauses joined are also independent. The difference is that the relationship is defined by the use of a conjunctive adverb (words such as also, however, nevertheless, specifically, and therefore) followed by a comma. Examples: > I don�t normally laugh at people; nevertheless, you make it unavoidable. > He�s an English major; therefore, he�ll be living with his parents when he graduates. > �He swallowed a lot of wisdom; however, it seemed as if all of it had gone down the wrong way.� �G.C. Lichtenberg III. TO SEPARATE ITEMS IN A SERIES CONTAINING INTERNAL PUNCTUATION Semicolons can be used for improved clarity within a series. This is usually necessary when the items in the series contain internal punctuation, usually commas. If these items aren�t distinctly separated, readers may become confused. Examples: > Susie likes Tom, the baseball player; Brett; Bretts�s brother, Matt, but not the Matt that works at the coffee shop; and Jeff. > Edgar would love to live in New York, New York; Paris, France; and Tokyo, Japan, but he�d settle for anywhere outside of Gainesville. > �The only sensible ends of literature are first, the pleasurable toil of writing; second, the gratification of one�s family and friends; and lastly, the solid cash.� --Nathaniel Hawthorne And what would the world be like if grammar and punctuation weren�t misused? MISUSES OF THE SEMICOLON (misuses in bold courtesy of Diana Hacker�s A Pocket Style Manual, 2nd Ed.) Semicolons should not be used in the following situations: Between the subordinate clause and the rest of the sentence Wrong: Unless you want to spend 10 bucks on pizza; you�d better go to Cici�s $3.99 buffet. Between an appositive and the word to which it refers Wrong: I have a strong craving for a pint of my favorite ice cream; Ben & Jerry�s Chubby Hubby. To introduce a list Wrong: Some of my pet peeves can be found on the bus to school; pushers, shovers, and people with cell phones permanently attached to their ears. Between independent clauses joined by coordinating conjunctions Wrong: I�m not sure if he knows he can�t sing; but his confidence on that karaoke machine is slightly attractive. TIPS FOR TEACHING 1) Teachers can provide a worksheet with 8-10 pairs of closely related independent clauses mixed up into one list. Teachers should instruct the students to create a number of compound sentences joined with semicolons. 2) Teachers can provide a worksheet containing sentences with punctuation marks replaced by blanks. Teachers should instruct the students to fill in the blanks with the proper punctuation. (Note: This type of worksheet can be used with any lesson on punctuation. For a lesson on semicolons, however, teachers should concentrate on primarily replacing semicolons, commas, and colons with blanks.) |
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