How to Write Great Essays

THE SEMICOLON
Semicolons (;) may be used in two ways: to separate independent clauses,and to separate the items
in a list when those items contain commas.

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HOW TO WRITE GREAT ESSAYS

CHAPTER 4 Mechanics
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Use semicolons to separate independent clauses.
Case:
Use a semicolon to separate independent clauses joined without a
conjunction.
Example:
Four people worked on the project; only one received credit for it.
Case: 
Use a semicolon to separate independent clauses that contain com-
mas, even if the clauses are joined by a conjunction.
Example:
The strays were malnourished, dirty, and ill; but Liz had a weak-
ness for kittens, so she adopted them all.
Case: 
Use a semicolon to separate independent clauses that are connected
with a conjunctive adverb that expresses a relationship between clauses.
Example:
Victoria was absent frequently; therefore, she received a low
grade.
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Use semicolons to separate items in a series that contain commas.
Case:
Use a semicolon to show which sets of items go together.
Examples: 
The dates for our meetings are Monday, January 10; Tuesday,
April 14; Monday, July 7; and Tuesday, October 11.
She has lived in Omaha, Nebraska; Nutley, New Jersey; Amherst, Massachu-
setts; and Pensacola, Florida.