Use of Semicolon

Use of Semicolon

1. Semicolon Between Two Connected Independent Clauses

It means that after a semicolon, there must be a full sentence or an Independent clause. Let's write two independent clauses that are related in meaning or topic:

I saw our teacher on the road.
He was with his family.

The above two sentences are complete sentences, so we can call them independent clauses. Now you can obviously write them separately as two different sentences:

I saw our teacher on the road. He was with his family.

But if you use a semicolon, you can write it within one sentence:

I saw our teacher on the road; he was with his family.

2. Semicolon Before A Conjunctive Adverb After An Independent Clause

If you want to connect two independent clauses with a conjunctive adverb such as therefore, furthermore, however, moreover, etc., you need to follow this syntax:

Independent clause 1 + ; + conjunctive adverb + , + Independent clause 2

Example:

It is raining; therefore, we should cancel today's match.

You cannot use a comma instead of a semicolon between an independent clause and a conjunctive adverb

Incorrect: It is raining, therefore, we should cancel today's match.