semicolon

A semicolon has two uses: (1) to separate items within a list and (2) to connect two sentences or complete clauses.

A semicolon is used to separate items of a list when the items of the list contain multiple factors within them.

Example:

Democrats in Congress are working on a new bill to reduce use of coal, natural gas, and oil; to increase use of wind energy, solar energy, and other renewable energy; and to fund research into new energy storage technology.

When lists are made as a bullet list, use semicolons after each item of a list and a period after the final item if it closes the list as a sentence. Don’t use a period after the final item if the sentence continues after the list.

Example:

A semicolon is also used to connect two complete sentences that are closely related in thought. In this case, the semicolon replaces the comma in what would be a run-on sentence but connects two sentences where a period would create too much separation of thought.

Example:

Democrats in Congress are working on a new renewable energy bill; Republicans say they will oppose the bill unless it also makes room for nuclear technology.

Screen readers tend to pause only briefly when they encounter a semicolon in the context of a sentences, but otherwise semicolons go unnoticed.

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