Semicolon

Independent clauses

Use a semicolon to connect two independent clauses that represent similar or closely connected ideas.

Examples

• Satsuki Minazuki can see death; specifically, she can see the illusion of corpses exactly 24 hours before they manifest in reality.

Lists

Semicolons must be used in place of commas in lists in which an individual item contains a comma. This applies even to lists of only two items.

Examples

• Correct: Kae is surrounded by four handsome boys: Igarashi, who is athletic and good-looking; Nao, who is playful and naughty; the younger Shinomiya, who is delicate and sweet; and the older Mutsumi, who is kind and angelic.

  • Queen Victoria sends in her notorious guard dog, Ciel Phantomhive; and his ever-faithful demon butler, Sebastian Michaelis.

• Incorrect: Kae is surrounded by four handsome boys: Igarashi, who is athletic and good-looking, Nao, who is playful and naughty, the younger Shinomiya, who is delicate and sweet, and the older Mutsumi, who is kind and angelic.

  • Queen Victoria sends in her notorious guard dog, Ciel Phantomhive, and his ever-faithful demon butler, Sebastian Michaelis.

See also

🅰️Capitalization