Look Good in Print
02B: PUNCTUATION+
11. If You Must Use a Semicolon, Use it Well
Business writers often avoid semicolons, partly because they don't know how to use them. This is unfortunate. A semicolon is uniquely useful in four specific situations.
11.1 Use a semicolon to join independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction.
If you use a comma here instead, you end up with a "comma splice," which is a major embarrassment.
BIG FAT NO-NO: Sam received exceptional client evaluations, sadly, Lynn did not.
(See the problem? You can't tell what "sadly" is modifying. The comma doesn't have enough oomph to join two independent clauses. A period would work, but it would also chop a continuous idea into two separate chunks)
PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE: Sam received exceptional client evaluations; sadly, Lynn did not.
(Nice)
11.2 Use a semicolon between independent clauses joined by a conjunctive adverb.
That's a lot of grammar jargon, but the idea is simple. Conjunctive adverbs are words like however, therefore, furthermore, and nevertheless. In the following examples, you'll see the semicolon placed before the conjunctive adverb and a comma placed after.
YES: Sam received exceptional client evaluations; however, he still lost his job in the downsizing.
YES: Lynn's client evaluations were mediocre at best; nevertheless, he was promoted to director of client services.
(All injustice aside, these sentences are impeccably punctuated)
The semicolon is needed because the conjunctive adverb comes between two independent clauses. When the conjunctive adverb is interrupting a single clause, do NOT use a semicolon.
NO: Laying off your top performers; however, does not boost morale.
(The semicolon separates the subject from the verb - bad idea)
YES: Laying off your top performers, however, does not boost morale.
(Commas are fine here, because the word "however" is not placed between two independent clauses)
11.3 Use a semicolon after an independent clause that comes before "i.e.,"
(which means "that is" or "in other words") and "e.g". (which means "for example") if another independent clause follows.
NO: We have received approval for the new position, i.e., we can hire either one full-time employee or two part-time employees.
(That comma is not up to the task of joining two independent clauses)
YES: We have received approval for the new position; i.e., we can hire either one full-time employee or two part-time employees.
(Perfect use of a semicolon)
When the i.e. (or e.g.) precedes a phrase rather than a clause, no semicolon is needed. A comma works fine:
YES: This year, let's focus on our greatest strength, i.e., our after-sales support.
(No semicolon needed).
Alternatively, put the full clause or phrase beginning with i.e. (or e.g.) inside parentheses. In this case, the first paren takes the place of the semicolon and requires only a comma to the right.
YES: We have received approval for the new position (i.e., we can hire either one full-time employee or two part-time employees).
(The sentence contains two independent clauses, but no semicolon is needed).
YES: This year, let's focus on our greatest strength (i.e., our after-sales support).
(No semicolon needed).
11.4 Use a semicolon to separate items in a series that contains internal commas.
In these cases, the semicolon acts as "super comma". Examine the following sentence, in which the list of cities and states creates a messy sequence of commas.
NO: Fidelity Investments builds operations centers in out-of-the-way places like Merrimack, New Hampshire, Smithfield, Rhode Island , Westlake, Texas, Covington, Kentucky, and Greenwood Village, Colorado.
(If that didn't give you a headache, you're unusual)
YES: Fidelity Investments builds operations centers in out-of-the-way places like Merrimack, New Hampshire; Smithfield, Rhode Island ; Westlake, Texas; Covington, Kentucky; and Greenwood Village, Colorado.
(Those "super-commas" really help, don't they?)