Semicolons
How to Vary Sentence Structure
Using Semicolons
Davis Mooney
Writing Fellow
To Join Two Independent
Clauses

Use a semicolon to join two main clauses not
joined by a coordinating conjunction.
 Coordinating Conjunctions: and, but, for, or,
nor, so, yet
 Structure: main clause ; main clause .
 Example: “Management is doing things right;
leadership is doing the right things.” –Peter
Drucker
To Join Two Independent
Clauses Linked by a Conjunctive
Adverb




Use a semicolon to join two main clauses linked by a
conjunctive adverb.
Structure: main clause ; conjunctive adverb , main
clause .
Common Conjunctive Adverbs: therefore, moreover,
thus, consequently, however, also
Example: “Science in the modern world has many
uses; however, its chief use is to provide long words
to cover the errors of the rich.” –G.K. Chesterton
To Join Two Independent
Clauses Linked by a Transitional
Phrase

Use a semicolon to join two main clauses
linked by a transitional phrase.
 Structure: main clause ; transitional phrase ,
main clause .
 Common Transitional Phrases: in fact, even
so, for instance, as a result, on the other hand
 Example: “Words rarely express the true
meaning; in fact, they tend to hide it.”-Herman
Hesse
To Separate Items in a Series
that Contain Internal Punctuation

Use a semicolon to organize a complex
series
 A complex series is a series containing
commas within the series.
 Structure: main clause , item in a series ; item
in a series ; item in a series .
 Example: As part of their North American tour,
U2 will be visiting Los Angeles, California;
Baltimore, Maryland; Atlanta, Georgia; and
Raleigh, North Carolina.
Review
 Use
a semicolon to:
- Join two independent clauses,
- Join two independent clauses
linked by a conjunctive adverb,
- Join two independent clauses
linked by a transitional phrase,
- Or to separate items in a complex
series