February 15, 2016
Semicolons
The semicolon (;) is one of the easiest punctuation marks to use for connecting major sentence elements of equal grammatical rank.
1.
To Separate Main, or Independent, Clauses Not Joined by a Coordinating Conjunction
(and, but, or, for, nor, yet, so). Main Clauses Joined by a Semicolon Should be Closely
Related in Meaning.
All of the elements of battery were present ; it was a prima facie case .
Not: All of the elements of battery were present; and it was a prima facie case .
2. To Join Two Main Clauses When Using a Conjunctive Adverb Between Them
The jury decision was inconsistent with the facts ; therefore, an appeal is probable.
Note: the conjunctive adverb is usually followed by a comma.
Some of the most common conjunctive adverbs are the following: accordingly also further furthermore likewise meanwhile similarly still anyway besides hence however moreover then nevertheless thereafter certainly indeed next therefore consequently incidentally nonetheless thus
3. To Separate Items in a List Introduced by a Colon
The following elements of assault are present: (1) the act was intentional ; (2) the gesture caused reasonable apprehension of an imminent and harmful touching ; and (3) the actor was not privileged to make the gesture.
4. To Separate Components When a List Already Contains Commas
In attendance were the firms of Abel, Baker , and Crony ; Gargle, Koff, and Sneaze ; and
Flanders, Moe, and Barney.
Adapted from: The Legal Writing Handbook
—Oates, Enquist, & Kunsch
Prepared by Jennifer Lussier and Chris Dunn