Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Semicolons they're not just for book reports.
The further we are from “grammar” school
the more difficult it becomes
to recall grammar rules.
As adults, we need to be able to string together ideas into cohesive
sentences for reports, correspondence, and projects that are
required throughout our professional and personal lives.
Properly using semicolons will allow you to produce a comprehensible,
sophisticated product.
Using them improperly will result in your reader
focusing on your poorly
written product, instead of the more important
message you are trying to deliver.
According to Allison VanNest of Grammarly,
many professionals have
experienced embarrassment because they
don't understand how to punctuate properly.
Yes, you can still use them as smiley’s in
text messages to your friends!
What are they good for?
If you have two clauses that are closely related,
but could be their own sentence,
they can be joined with a semicolon.
Semicolon’s add variety to your project
by combining short sentences
into a more sophisticated and elegant sentence.
By combining two clauses,
the relationship between the two is emphasized.
Notice the emphasis on the relationship
between the two clauses.
When I say, “I am tired; I want coffee”
the relationship of drinking coffee and
being tired is emphasized.
I want coffee because I am tired.
The relationship between Thomas needing to work and
his boss being unhappy is made abundantly clear in this sentence.
What about commas?
You can’t talk about the semicolon without also
addressing the comma.
They are similar in that they both combine independent clauses,
but commas require coordinating conjunctions
to link the independent clauses.
Some of you may remember the catchy tune from
Conjunction Junction railroad yard!
For those of you who missed it; this wonderful 70’s style cartoon
and song was produced to explain conjunctions.
As indicated by the photo here coordinating conjunctions include
and, but, and or.
I am tired, and I want coffee. His boss was not happy
with his project progress,
so Thomas needs to work on the project.
What about conjunctive adverbs?
Use the semicolon when you join two clauses using
conjunctive adverbs like:
however, moreover, therefore, consequently, etc.
Conjunctive adverbs help to emphasize the cause and effect relationship
between the two clauses.
Cause – Thomas’ boss isn’t happy.
Effect – He has to work on the project.
Cause – I’m tired
Effect – I want coffee.
In conclusion, use semicolons when you have two clauses
that could be independent,
but you want to emphasize their relationship.
This will result in a more sophisticated sentence structure that
will add variety to your writing.
Properly using semicolons will allow you to produce comprehensible,
sophisticated products for personal and professional use.
Please, don’t limit your semicolon use to a smiley face.
Use it to separate clauses! Thanks for joining me!