Semicolons – Part 2

In a previous post we looked at using semicolons to join two parts of a sentence when each part could be regarded as a sentence on its own. Here we’re going to find out about two other ways to use semicolons.

If we want our writing to flow more easily, we might join two sentences together using a transitional word or phrase such as:

• however
• instead
• therefore
• meanwhile
• consequently
• accordingly
• also
• namely
• that is
• for example (sometimes written as e.g.)
• for instance (sometimes written as i.e.)
• as a result
• on the other hand

The technical names for such words and phrases are “conjunctive adverbs” or “conjunctive adverb phrases”. We put a semicolon before such adverbs or adverb phrases.

Here are some examples:

• I would like to go to the theatre more often; however, I really can’t afford it.
• There is likely to be a lot of snow today; therefore, it would be a good idea to wear your winter boots.
• We often see birds in the garden; for example, yesterday we saw a robin, a wagtail, some magpies and several wood pigeons.
• There was an enormous traffic jam this morning; as a result, many people were late for work.

Although it’s useful to know about this use of semicolons, it doesn’t really matter if you don’t remember it. All these examples would be fine if we replaced the semicolons with full stops.

The third way in which we use semicolons is to make complicated lists easier to understand.

We normally use commas to separate items in a list.

For example:

• When I go to the supermarket, I must remember to buy bread, milk, butter, cheese, cooked ham and some fruit.

That list was fairly simple, but some lists can get quite long and complicated. Imagine you are going shopping for several things in a number of different shops. Then you might write something like:

• When I go shopping, I must go to the supermarket for bread, milk, butter, cheese, cooked ham and some fruit; to the newsagent for a newspaper, magazine, paper and envelopes; and to the butcher’s for some beef, pork and chicken.

Or, maybe you want to describe why you like going to different places:

• We like to go to London for the sites, the concerts and the theatre; to the countryside for the scenery, fresh air and long walks; and to the seaside for relaxation, swimming and sunbathing.

If we just use commas, lists like these become difficult to read and understand; semicolons help to make things clearer.

Again, it’s not essential for you to remember all this. Many people write perfectly acceptable and intelligible English even though they rarely – if ever – use a semicolon. But, as always, using semicolons in your writing can add an element of style and demonstrate that you have a good grasp of the complications of the language.

^{Posted by Graham}

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