[Gcromqgb]

Can someone explain to me under what circumstances is a semi-colon used? To be honest i've never used one, and would like to know when it's necessary.

Any examples would be great.


Feel free to laugh and point.


There is nothing like starting a newyear with a dumb question.

Cheers.

[Henldyhl]

It's used to separate two parts of a sentence, that could form sentences of their own. It can also be use to separate items in a list.

[maonnjtip]

It's used to separate two parts of a sentence, that could form sentences of their own. It can also be use to separate items in a list.

In an usual turn of events, I find myself agreeing with Bungle [surrender][rofl]

I tend to us a semicolon especially in emails when I have a sentence that is too long either by itself, or using a comma - but contains two closely connected points which would not work well as seperate sentences.

[Rffkwfct]

I tend to us a semicolon especially in emails when I have a sentence that is too long, either by itself or using a comma; but contains two closely connected points which would not work well as seperate sentences.

Fixed.

[nerkvcbtre]

Fixed.

Forgot to mention, I also sometimes us a "-" as well [rofl]

[glamourcitys]

I was taught to use commas in a few more places than the kids these days are.

[opdirorg]

Another New Year's day has arrived and I've got a lot on my plate; gym, shopping, relatives and a visit to my fiancee.

That's how I've always used it. Not sure if its corrent though!

[bunkalapa]

Another New Year's day has arrived and I've got a lot on my plate; gym, shopping, relatives and a visit to my fiancee.

That's how I've always used it. Not sure if its corrent though!

I'm pretty sure that should be a colon instead.

[Adeniinteme]

I'm pretty sure that should be a colon instead.

You are probably correct!

[myhackingtosh_ws]

http://correctpunctuation.explicatus...tion-colon.htm

[RemiVedia]

Cheers for the info guys.


To be honest I was dreading reading the replies, but in general all are pretty good.


Thanks.

[parishilton]

Fixed.

Incorrect, that should be a comma, but it is a pretty bad sentence in general.

Another New Year's day has arrived and I've got a lot on my plate; gym, shopping, relatives and a visit to my fiancee.

That's how I've always used it. Not sure if its corrent though!

David Mitchell is right, that should be a colon.

"There are a lot of ways to incorrectly use a colon; Bungle uses his as both an entrance and exit."

[RgtrsKfR]

Fixed.

You're out of your depth. Again.

[paydayuscf]

Incorrect, that should be a comma, but it is a pretty bad sentence in general.David Mitchell is right, that should be a colon.

"There are a lot of ways to incorrectly use a colon; Bungle uses his as both an entrance and exit."

Oh you swine, now every time he posts I'm gonna read it in David Mitchell's voice.

[gariharrr]

Connecting two complete sentences is correct, but its usually used to get a specific effect.

"The buffet table was lined with a wide array of professionally prepared vegetarian dishes; I thought I was going to starve to death."

And my old English teacher always said no more than one semicolon per page.

[Unjucky]

I dont think it is really neccessary to use semi colons at all tbh....

You can use either a colon or a comma and that will be fine for pretty much everything.... I got an A in english language and never used a single semi colon lol.

[F1grandprix]

Incorrect, that should be a comma, but it is a pretty bad sentence in general.

Actually, commas and semi colons are interchangeable in many instances; that being one, this being another.

[giftbestcom]

Actually, commas and semi colons are interchangeable in many instances; that being one, this being another.

Not really:

"but contains two closely connected points which would not work well as seperate sentences." doesn't work as a sentence by itself, which it would need to if you were to connect it to another with a semi colon.

A semi colon isn't for joining two parts of the same sentence together, it's for linking two separate sentences that are related.

[Intockatt]

Not really:

"but contains two closely connected points which would not work well as seperate sentences." doesn't work as a sentence by itself, which it would need to if you were to connect it to another with a semi colon.

A semi colon isn't for joining two parts of the same sentence together, it's for linking two separate sentences that are related.

Yes really. Comma or Semi Colon, it's up to the writer which they choose:

A group of words containing a subject and a verb and expressing a complete thought is called a sentence or an independent clause. Sometimes, an independent clause stands alone as a sentence, and sometimes two independent clauses are linked together into what is called a compound sentence. Depending on the circumstances, one of two different punctuation marks can be used between the independent clauses in a compound sentence: a comma or a semicolon. The choice is yours.

[Meenepek]

Yes really. Comma or Semi Colon, it's up to the writer which they choose:

The two parts separated by the semi colon have to make sense as sentences on their own. The example I quoted does not.