Writing Resources

Semicolon Rules

Use a semicolon when you link two related independent clauses with no connecting words, e.g.:

I am going home; I intend to stay there.
It rained heavily during the afternoon; we managed to have our picnic anyway.
They couldn't make it to the summit and back before dark; they decided to camp for the night.

If you add connecting words like “and,” you need a comma, e.g.:

I am going home, and I intend to stay there.
It rained heavily during the afternoon, but we managed to have our picnic anyway.
They couldn’t make it to the summit and back before dark, so they decided to camp for the night.

You can also use a semicolon when you join two independent clauses together with one of the following conjunctive adverbs (adverbs that join independent clauses): however, moreover, therefore, consequently, otherwise, nevertheless, thus, etc. For example:

I am going home; moreover, I intend to stay there.
It rained heavily during the afternoon; however, we managed to have our picnic anyway.
They couldn't make it to the summit and back before dark; therefore, they decided to camp for the night.

You can also write two sentences if you use a conjunctive adverb and eliminate the semicolon altogether, e.g.:

I am going home. Moreover, I intend to stay there.
It rained heavily during the afternoon. However, we managed to have our picnic anyway.