How do you properly use a semicolon?

Use a semicolon to join two related independent clauses in place of a comma and a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet). Make sure when you use the semicolon that the connection between the two independent clauses is clear without the coordinating conjunction.

What is a semicolon example?

Semicolons Separate Clauses Here’s an example: I have a big test tomorrow; I can’t go out tonight. The two clauses in that sentence are separated by a semicolon and could be sentences on their own if you put a period between them instead: I have a big test tomorrow.

What does semicolon mean in texting?

So using a semicolon in a text shows you’ve thought out, revised, and overedited your message. That means you’re trying too hard, and there’s nothing worse than trying too hard. A semicolon in a text message is the equivalent of putting on makeup to go to the gym. Apostrophe.

Where is the semicolon on the keyboard?

To create the semicolon symbol using a U.S. keyboard, press the semicolon key. It is on the same key as the colon ( : ), directly to the right of the letter ‘L’ key.

What is colon example?

A colon can be used to introduce a list. For example, “Here’s a list of groceries I need: a loaf of bread, a quart of milk, and a stick of butter.” The words preceding the colon stand as a complete, grammatically correct sentence.

What is a colon and examples?

Updated July 17, 2018. The colon ( : ) is a mark of punctuation used after a statement (such as an independent clause) or that introduces a quotation, an explanation, an example, or a series.

What do 2 semicolons mean?

When two or more semicolons are used within a single construction, all constituents are at the same level, unlike commas, which can separate, for example, subordinate clauses from main clauses.

How do you type a colon?

To create the colon symbol using a U.S. keyboard, hold down the Shift key and press the : (colon) key. The : key is the same key as the ; (semicolon) key, located directly to the right of the letter ‘L’ key.

Where is the colon on the iPhone 12 keyboard?

How do I find the colon on the iPhone keypad? Tap the “123” button, which allows numbers and other characters – including the colon – to be entered.

What does a semicolon do in a statement?

The semicolon is a terminal, a token that terminates something. What exactly it terminates depends on the context. Semicolon is a statement terminator. Semicolon denotes sequential composition. It is also used to delineate declarations.

Who was the first person to use the semicolon?

Manutius established the practice of using the semicolon to separate words of opposed meaning and to allow a rapid change in direction in connecting interdependent statements. Ben Jonson was the first notable English writer to use the semicolon systematically.

When do you use a semicolon in Perl?

In computer programming, the semicolon is often used to separate multiple statements (for example, in Perl, Pascal, PL/I, and SQL; see Pascal: Semicolons as statement separators). In other languages, semicolons are called terminators and are required after every statement (such as in Java, and the C family).

Where is the semicolon located on the keyboard?

In the QWERTY keyboard layout, the semicolon resides in the unshifted homerow beneath the little finger of the right hand and has become widely used in programming languages as a statement separator or terminator. The first printed semicolon was the work of the Italian printer Aldus Manutius the Elder in 1496.