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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/43598
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/43598
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

I think most people just FEAR the semicolon!

Below is an excerpt from [https://theoatmeal.com/comics/semicolon](https://theoatmeal.com/comics/semicolon)

> **How to use a semicolon** The most feared punctuation on earth.

skipping over WHY and HOW

> WHEN - When should I use a semicolon? _"I gnaw on old car tires; it strengthens my jaw so I'll be better conditioned for bear combat."_ Use a semicolon when you want to **form a bond between two statements** , typically when they are related to or contrast with one another. In the example above, the relationship between gnawing on tires and combatting bears is strengthened by using a semicolon. _"I fought the bear and won. Also, I never kiss plague rats on the mouth."_ In this sentence, your victory against the bear does not need to be connected to the plague rat, so a period is used.
> 
> INTERNAL - Use a semicolon to **connect sentences that contain internal punctuation**. _"When dinosaurs agree on something, they'll often high-five one another; dinosaurs are all about high fives."_ If you'd used a comma in the sentence, it would have resulted in a comma splice. If you'd used a period, you'd lose the connection between the two clauses.
> 
> SUPER - Use a semicolon as a super-comma. _"While searching for a good place to get a unicorn burger, I travelled to Seattle, Washington, Tokyo, Japan; and London, England."_ Use a semicolon if you need to make a **list of items that are separated with a comma**. This often occurs when listing locations, names, dates, and descriptions.

Again, this brilliance is excerpted from [**The Oatmeal**'s Grammar Comics](https://theoatmeal.com/tag/grammar) , but the basic concept is one I've agreed with. Semicolons are not fancy **;** they're just another tool with a specific set of use cases, some of which are quite common.

Original score: 1