Unit 11.1
Semicolon
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Introduction
The semicolon is a punctuation mark, something between a full stop and a comma. It is stronger than a comma but weaker than a full stop.
Form
The semicolon sign is: ;
Example
- In lists with internal commas
- The supermarket has dairy on the lower level; meat and vegetables on the ground floor; cosmetics on the first floor.
- The school has whiteboards in the new classrooms; blackboards in the old classrooms; screens in lecture halls.
- I own a house in California; a flat in New York and castle in London.
- In elliptical constructions
- In 2005 MLS had one office; in 2030, almost 10.
- Some students brought food; others, drinks; yet others, napkins.
- Some children have both parents; some, one parent; some, none.
- linked by a transitional expression
- Heavy snow continues to fall at the airport; consequently, the flight has been canceled.
- The marginalisation of women in the job market has increased; thus the introduction of new laws that force the equality of outcome.
- The exploitaition of people still takes place in some parts of Africa and Asia; so we should do something about it.
Use
We use the semicolon:
- In lists in which the sentences are too long to use a comma in-between (because the meaning can be lost);
- In elliptical constructions;
- when the link is a transitional expression such as ‘consequently, thus, therefore or so’.
Related
At A1 level you can take a look at these:
At A2 level you can take a look at these:
At B1 level you can take a look at these:
At B2 level you can take a look at these:
Exercises
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