Last Updated on August 24, 2024 by Nathaniel Tower
Semicolons: because sometimes a period just seems too final, and a comma doesn’t always pull its weight.
Semicolons are here to step in when you’ve got two complete thoughts that are way too dependent on each other to be split apart, but you’re also not ready for them to go off on their own. It’s like a relationship where you keep “talking” but refuse to call it dating.
But let’s be honest here. Most people suck at using semicolons.
So let’s figure out how to clean it up.
Here are the correct use cases for semicolons. Follow this advice and you’ll never look like a semicolon noob again.
1. Connecting Two Independent Clauses:
I’m not going to teach you what an independent clause is here, so let’s simplify it by saying it’s a complete sentence. A semicolon can put two of these things together.
If you’ve got two sentences that could stand alone but you’re too much of a control freak to let them, you toss in a semicolon. It lets them stay together without committing to a period. Think of it like a comma but with more guts (although that analogy isn’t great because semicolons and commas are never interchangeable).
Example:
- Incorrect: “I love SEO, keyword strategy drives results.”
- Correct: “I love SEO; keyword strategy drives results.” These are two separate ideas, but they clearly belong in the same conversation. Without the semicolon, it’s like they’re awkwardly running into each other at a party.
You don’t want to overdo it; most of the time, you’ll probably want periods instead of semicolons. Just be cool about it and throw in a casual semicolon every so often.
2. Handling Complex Lists:
Commas are usually great for listing stuff, but some lists require a little more punch.
When your list items are so complicated that commas alone feel like they’ve given up, enter the semicolon. It’s the only thing holding your chaotic marketing strategies together when each list item demands more attention than your average sentence can handle.
Example:
- Incorrect: “In our content strategy, we focus on keyword research, link building, and on-page SEO, paid search, display ads, and remarketing, and UX optimization, A/B testing, and analytics.”
- Correct: “In our content strategy, we focus on keyword research, link building, and on-page SEO; paid search, display ads, and remarketing; and UX optimization, A/B testing, and analytics.”
See how semicolons keep everything from turning into one big mess? In the above example, we grouped similar items in the list with semicolons to make it more manageable. Your strategy should be complex, but your punctuation shouldn’t be.
3. Before Conjunctive Adverbs:
There goes Nate throwing around more grammar words. You know the conjunctive adverbs, right? Didn’t you pay attention to School House Rocks? Or did they just sing about regular conjunctions? I can’t remember.
When you need to make a point but also feel the need to show off with words like “however” or “therefore,” semicolons step in. It’s like they’re saying, “Yeah, I could end this sentence, but I’m not done yet.”
Example:
- Incorrect: “We should optimize for mobile, however, the client doesn’t care.”
- Correct: “We should optimize for mobile; however, the client doesn’t care.”
The semicolon gives “however” the space it needs to breathe and makes your point sound more deliberate. And less like you’re just rambling.
When NOT to Use a Semicolon:
Don’t get semicolon-happy. Just because you’ve figured out how to use one doesn’t mean you should start sprinkling them everywhere like they’re some kind of magic writing dust. One or two correctly used semicolons makes you look like an expert writer. A dozen semicolons, even if correctly used, makes you look like a tryhard.
Aside from using too many, here are some times you never want semicolons:
- Between a Dependent and Independent Clause: Wrong: “Because user experience matters; we redesigned the entire site.” Right: “Because user experience matters, we redesigned the entire site.” Let’s not get carried away with unnecessary punctuation experiments, okay?
- To Separate Completely Unrelated Ideas: Wrong: “I love UX design; paid social ads are overrated.” Right: “I love UX design. Paid social ads are overrated.” Unless you’re trying to confuse people on purpose, keep your unrelated ideas in their own sentences.
Final Thoughts on Using Semicolons:
Semicolons are cool when used correctly; they make your writing sharper and more effective. (Damn, that looked pretty slick, right?)
But like any tool, they have their place. Use them wisely, or risk looking like you’re just trying too hard.
And using them incorrectly makes you look like a Suckspeare.
So if you’re ever in doubt, just ditch the semicolon. And never go out of your way to write sentences just so you can use semicolons; that’s lame.
