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GED Writing: Semicolons

22nd January 2009

GED Writing: Semicolons

posted in GED Multiple Choice Questions |

Semicolons are actually pretty easy. The main use of semicolons is to join two complete sentences without one of the joining words I mentioned before, “for,” “and,” “nor,” “but,” “or,” or “so.”

Say I want to join these sentences:

Dan is going to school.
Chris will meet him after class.

I could use the word “and,” with a comma in front of it. Or, I could just use a semicolon.

Dan is going to school; Chris will meet him after class.

Simple, right? You’ll really only need a semicolon when you’re joining two complete sentences. Now, people get confused about the words “however” and “therefore,” because they’re sort of similar in meaning to “but” and “so.” But really, “however” and “therefore” are a totally different kind of word. You often use them as an “extra” word at the beginning of a sentence, so a comma goes after them if you use them that way:

Dan is going to school. However, I’m staying home.
We’re out of milk. Therefore, I need to go to the store.

Here’s the part that people find tricky. Often, people want to join sentences with “however” or “therefore,” and there’s a tendency to want to use them to work like “but” or “so.” But they’re not the same kind of joining word! So, the way to join these sentences is just to use a semicolon, just like the other sentences. “However” and “therefore” are still extra words, so you keep the comma after them.

Dan is going to school; however, I’m staying home.
We’re out of milk; therefore, I need to go to the store.

It’s simple, really! You’re just taking two sentences and joining them with a semicolon. Nothing else changes.

Well, I hope this helps! Good luck and good GED studying!

For more information about the GED test and GED test preparation, visit the GED Academy at http://www.passGED.com.

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There are currently 6 responses to “GED Writing: Semicolons”

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  1. 1 On January 23rd, 2009, Tania said:

    Thank you so much,it’s really very helpfull.

    posted on January 23rd, 2009 at 1:48 pm

  2. 2 On February 2nd, 2009, Rebecca C. said:

    Thank you for clarifying about the words ‘however’ and ‘therefore’. However, I thought there was more to the rules of using a semicolon. I understood that there are only certain situations where it is correct for one to use it.

    For example, it can be used in this way, “The parents were ecstatic to see their daughter again; they hadn’t heard from her in over three years,” but it is not considered correct to use the semicolon in this way, “We need to go to the grocery store; Tim said we will go at 2 p.m.”

    My understanding is that the semicolon is supposed to be used when conjoining one sentence to another to give further detail. In the sentence, “The parents were ecstatic to see their daughter again; they hadn’t heard from her in over three years,” the semicolon is correct because the second sentence explains why they are ecstatic to see their daughter. In the second sentence, about going to the store, it not correct because the time we will go to the store has nothing to do with why we need to go. I understand that a period should be used in the second sentence and not a semicolon.

    Am I correct? Thanks for the clarification.

    Rebecca C.

    posted on February 2nd, 2009 at 10:44 am

  3. 3 On February 2nd, 2009, Liz said:

    Rebecca,

    Thanks! That’s a very insightful question. Grammatically, the function of a semicolon is to join two sentences, but when should (or shouldn’t) you use it? The clause following a semicolon doesn’t necessarily give further detail, but it should have a close relationship to the first clause. There should be a reason the two are specially linked. Using a semicolon is a choice, and as a writer, by using a semicolon, you’re saying to the reader that these two sentences go together. Semicolons are exceptional punctuation. They should not be overused. You’re making a special point when you join two sentences with a semicolon, so you need to keep that in mind when choosing whether or not to use one. Using semicolons is part of your writing style, and you need to find your own voice. There aren’t hard and fast rules on when to use semicolons because they’re an optional kind of punctuation. You can write perfectly well without ever using a semicolon. I wouldn’t say your second example is “incorrect,” but it’s probably not great judgment in normal, everyday writing. The semicolon gives extra importance to what Tim said, and maybe in the context of a dramatic story, there might be a particular reason to join those sentences together. In short, your instincts are right, but this isn’t so much an issue of right-and-wrong as style, voice, and choice.

    Liz

    posted on February 2nd, 2009 at 5:50 pm

  4. 4 On May 15th, 2009, dwain c said:

    What about using a colon: When introducing a list of things for example. In the introduction you have the colon. Example… I never knew that writing was so intricate: Semicolons, contractions and capitalization. Almost to much to digest. After the list is installed: Semicolons, contractions and capitalization, should a colon be used between the list or commas?

    posted on May 15th, 2009 at 3:07 pm

  5. 5 On May 17th, 2009, Liz said:

    Your example of a semicolon is a good one, but I wouldn’t capitalize “Semicolons” after the colon. (In the article title, it’s capitalized as a word of the title.) In the list itself, use commas to separate the words.

    I never knew that writing was so intricate: semicolons, contractions, and capitalization.

    Now, the comma before the “and” is optional, but I prefer using it for clarity.

    posted on May 17th, 2009 at 7:52 am

  6. 6 On July 14th, 2009, charlie wolfe said:

    thanks this wesite really answers some questions when the teachers are busy!!!!

    posted on July 14th, 2009 at 6:45 am

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