Semi-colon ( ; )

Semicolon ( ; )

Semicolon is one of the hardest punctuation marks to use. But it is extremely useful in a sentence.

  1. So, how do I use a semicolon?

If you have two independent clauses (meaning: they could stand alone as their own sentences), it is okay to use a semicolon.

For example,

My aunt also had hairy knuckles.

She loved to wash and comb them.

My aunt also had hairy knuckles; she loved to wash and comb them.

  1. The semicolon is more powerful than a comma but less powerful than a full stop.

  2. Semicolons cut items into ‘compartments’ then group items that belong together.


  1. The two rules you must remember:


i. semicolons should only connect clauses that are related in some ways.

e.g: Semicolons were once a mystery to me; I’d really like a sandwich. [WRONG]

Both clauses are not related so you cannot use a semicolon for this.

A full stop would be best here instead of a semicolon.


ii. semicolons CANNOT be used in the same sentence with the following words (coordinating connectors): ‘and’, ‘but’, ‘for’, ‘nor’, ‘or’, ‘so’ and ‘yet’.

But semicolons can replace them to shorten the sentences.


  1. Are you expected to use semicolons in IGCSE?

Yes. If possible in every piece of writing (but not too many)


Now do the following exercise:


  1. Exercise

Join the following using a semicolon:

  1. His offer sounded too good to be true.

 I didn’t believe it.

  1. Doreen was starting to worry. 

Leo was now two hours late.

  1. We didn’t have the heart to continue. 

It all seemed so futile.

  1. Ali is the practical one in the family. 

His brother is a dreamer.

  1. Only Cora showed up to help with the move. 

The others found excuses to stay away.

  1. Call me tomorrow.

I will give you my answer then.

  1. Some people write with a word processor.

Others write with a pen or pencil.

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