semicolon

[ sem-i-koh-luhn ]

/ ˈsɛm ɪˌkoʊ lən /

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noun

the punctuation mark (;) used to indicate a major division in a sentence where a more distinct separation is felt between clauses or items on a list than is indicated by a comma, as between the two clauses of a compound sentence.

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SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

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Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

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Origin of semicolon

First recorded in 1635–45; semi- + colon¹

Words nearby semicolon

semicircular canal, semicircular duct, semicivilized, semiclassical, semi-closed anesthesia, semicolon, semicoma, semiconducting, semiconductor, semiconductor diode, semiconductor laser

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use semicolon in a sentence

Author Jerome Klinkowitz, who has written several books about Vonnegut, believes that Lawrence may well not have changed as much as a semicolon of the manuscript.
What Early Drafts of Slaughterhouse-Five Reveal About Kurt Vonnegut's Struggles|Tom Roston|November 11, 2021|Time
I point out the phrase “more distinct separation,” and I suggest that the purpose of the semicolon is at least in part rhythmic.
Donald E. Westlake Defends the Semicolon|Donald E. Westlake|October 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The new material contains a semicolon; it has orders to call me if anybody gives it any trouble.
Donald E. Westlake Defends the Semicolon|Donald E. Westlake|October 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The semicolon is used in enumerations, as in the last example, in order to keep the parts more distinctly separate.
"Stops"|Paul Allardyce

The colon is used to indicate pauses more abrupt than those indicated by the semicolon.
"Stops"|Paul Allardyce
A pause generally indicated by a comma may be indicated by a semicolon when commas are used in the sentence for other purposes.
"Stops"|Paul Allardyce
If the conjunction "and" were inserted in the last sentence, the comma would be used instead of the semicolon.
"Stops"|Paul Allardyce
Of course, this rule must be qualified by the rules for the stronger points, especially by those for the semicolon and the colon.
"Stops"|Paul Allardyce

British Dictionary definitions for semicolon

semicolon

/ (ˌsɛmɪˈkəʊlən) /

noun

the punctuation mark (;) used to indicate a pause intermediate in value or length between that of a comma and that of a full stop

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for semicolon

semicolon

A punctuation mark (;) used to join two independent clauses in a sentence. The semicolon shows that the ideas in the two clauses are related: “Jack really didn't mind being left without a car; he had the house to himself.”