A Semiclon

1. Lesson
Game
Extras!

3. Graphics and
Examples
courtesy of
“The Oatmeal”

4. CONNECT SENTENCES

5. CONNECT SENTENCES

6. CONNECT SENTENCES

7. CONNECT SENTENCES

8. SUPER-COMMA

10. SUMMARY
USE A SEMICOLON:
• Join two related sentences
• Use to separate a list of items already separated by commas
DON’T USE A SEMICOLON
• When two sentences are joined by a conjunction
Back to Start

11. PRACTICE GAME
Example | Let’s Play!

12. SAMPLE 1
1.) Stephanie adopted a cat.
2.) Sven went to the store.
3.) Megan rode her bike down a hill.
A.) Mark moved to Massachusetts.
B.) The water bottle was empty.
C.) It had ten kittens.
Column One Column Two
Check Answer
Which sentences can be connected by a semicolon?
¿Qué penas se puede conectar por un punto y coma?

13. ANSWER TO SAMPLE 1
One More Example
1.) Stephanie adopted a cat.
2.) Sven went to the store.
3.) Megan rode her bike down a hill.
A.) Mark moved to Massachusetts.
B.) The water bottle was empty.
C.) It had ten kittens.
Column One Column Two
WHY: Both sentences are related because they talk about the cat.
None of the other sentences relate to each other.
POR QUÉ: Ambas frases están relacionadas porque hablan sobre
el gato. Ninguna de las otras frases se relacionan entre sí.
Which sentences can be connected by a semicolon?
¿Qué penas se puede conectar por un punto y coma?

14. SAMPLE 2
Kristen got all dressed up for the party
however, her best friend wore jeans.
Check Answer
Where should the semicolon go?
¿Dónde poner el punto y coma ir?

15. Let’s Play!
ANSWER TO SAMPLE 2
Kristen got all dressed up for the party;
however, her best friend wore jeans.
WHY: “Kristen got all dressed up for the party” and “however, her
best friend wore jeans” are both complete sentences that relate to
one another.
POR QUÉ: "Kristen se vistió todo para la fiesta" y "sin embargo, su
mejor amiga llevaba pantalones vaqueros" son frases completas
que se relacionan entre sí.
Where should the semicolon go?
¿Dónde poner el punto y coma ir?

16. 1.) Jelly beans are delicious.
2.) Megan wants to play inside.
3.) The dog peed twice in the snow.
A.) Haley wants to play outside.
B.) The water bottle was empty.
C.) Wow, those knuckles are hairy!
Column One Column Two
QUESTION 1
Check Answer
Which sentences can be connected by a semicolon?

17. Next Question
WHY: The sentences have the same format and contrast one
another, so they can be connected with a semicolon.
1.) Jelly beans are delicious.
2.) Megan wants to play inside.
3.) The dog peed twice in the snow.
A.) Haley wants to play outside.
B.) The water bottle was empty.
C.) Wow, those knuckles are hairy!
Column One Column Two
ANSWER TO QUESTION 1
Which sentences can be connected by a semicolon?

18. QUESTION 2
Check Answer
Where should the semicolon go?
The roof leaked, and the walls sagged
therefore, Brooke hired a contractor to
repair the house.

19. The roof leaked, and the walls sagged;
therefore, Brooke hired a contractor to
repair the house.
WHY: “The roof leaked, and the walls sagged” and “therefore,
Brooke hired a contractor to repair the house” are both complete
sentences. The first sentence gives the reason why Brooke called a
contractor.
Next Question
ANSWER TO QUESTION 2
Where should the semicolon go?

20. 1.) The feline is very elegant.
2.) Lemonade is Melissa’s favorite
drink.
3.) My hair is very wet.
A.) I just washed it.
B.) The purple peacock jumped
over the tall, maroon fence.
C.) My life is all about dance
because it makes me feel alive.
Column One Column Two
Check Answer
QUESTION 3
Which sentences can be connected by a semicolon?

21. Column Two
WHY: Both sentences are related because they talk about the
person’s hair. The second sentence explains why the first sentence
is true.
Next Question
ANSWER TO QUESTION 3
Which sentences can be connected by a semicolon?
1.) The feline is very elegant.
2.) Lemonade is Melissa’s favorite
drink.
3.) My hair is very wet.
A.) I just washed it.
B.) The purple peacock jumped
over the tall, maroon fence.
C.) My life is all about dance
because it makes me feel alive.
Column One

22. My father is an accountant my mother
is a lawyer.
Check Answer
QUESTION 4
Where should the semicolon go?

23. My father is an accountant; my mother
is a lawyer.
WHY: “My father is an accountant” and “my mother is a lawyer” are
both complete sentences. They relate to one another because they
both list the speaker’s parent’s jobs and are formatted the same,
showing parallel structure (we will talk about this next week).
Next Question
ANSWER TO QUESTION 4
Where should the semicolon go?

24. 1.) Llamas are aliens from outer
space.
2.) I saw Tangled five times at the
movie theater.
3.) I have a lot of homework.
A.) My Mom wants me to buy milk
at the grocery store.
B.) Cara washed the dishes for the
past five nights.
C.) I will stay up late to finish it.
Column One Column Two
Check Answer
QUESTION 5
Which sentences can be connected by a semicolon?

25. Column One Column Two
WHY: Both sentences are related because they talk about the
homework. The second sentence explains the effect of the first.
Next Question
ANSWER TO QUESTION 5
Which sentences can be connected by a semicolon?
1.) Llamas are aliens from outer
space.
2.) I saw Tangled five times at the
movie theater.
3.) I have a lot of homework.
A.) My Mom wants me to buy milk
at the grocery store.
B.) Cara washed the dishes for the
past five nights.
C.) I will stay up late to finish it.

26. This case bears investigation I'll put
someone on it.
Check Answer
QUESTION 6
Where should the semicolon go?

27. This case bears investigation; I'll put
someone on it.
WHY: “This case bears investigation” and “I’ll put someone on it”
are both complete sentences. The second sentence is the result of
the decision made in the first sentnece.
Next Question
ANSWER TO QUESTION 6
Where should the semicolon go?

28. 1.) Do you like to go to the zoo?
2.) The 105 degree weather made it
excruciatingly hot outside.
3.) Sherlock Holmes spends his
days in London solving crimes.
A.) Sarah has pajamas with
monkeys on them.
B.) My favorite television show is
Once Upon a Time.
C.) I had to use a fan to keep cool.
Column One Column Two
Check Answer
QUESTION 7
Which sentences can be connected by a semicolon?

29. Column One Column Two
WHY: Both sentences talk about the heat; the second explains
what the speaker did to combat it.
Next Question
ANSWER TO QUESTION 7
Which sentences can be connected by a semicolon?
1.) Do you like to go to the zoo?
2.) The 105 degree weather made it
excruciatingly hot outside.
3.) Sherlock Holmes spends his
days in London solving crimes.
A.) Sarah has pajamas with
monkeys on them.
B.) My favorite television show is
Once Upon a Time.
C.) I had to use a fan to keep cool.

30. Apples are usually sold by the pound
oranges are sold by the dozen.
Check Answer
QUESTION 8
Where should the semicolon go?

31. Apples are usually sold by the pound;
oranges are sold by the dozen.
WHY: “Apples are usually sold by the pound” and “oranges are
sold by the dozen” are both complete sentences. While they both
have different topics (apples and oranges), the two topics are
related (they are both fruit) and the sentences have the same
structure, allowing them to be combined by a semicolon.
Next Question
ANSWER TO QUESTION 8
Where should the semicolon go?

32. 1.) Kim and Lisa had a fight about
Lisa’s new boyfriend.
2.) Rebecca has two little sisters
and one older brother.
3.) Maxine takes dance classes on
Tuesdays and Thursdays.
A.) The dog loves to eat homework.
B.) They are not talking to each
other today.
C.) Every Monday and Thursday, I
watch the Lizzie Bennet Diaries on
YouTube.
Column One Column Two
Check Answer
QUESTION 9
Which sentences can be connected by a semicolon?

33. Column One Column Two
WHY: Both sentences talk about Kim and Lisa’s fight.
Next Question
ANSWER TO QUESTION 9
Which sentences can be connected by a semicolon?
1.) Kim and Lisa had a fight about
Lisa’s new boyfriend.
2.) Rebecca has two little sisters
and one older brother.
3.) Maxine takes dance classes on
Tuesdays and Thursdays.
A.) The dog loves to eat homework.
B.) They are not talking to each
other today.
C.) Every Monday and Thursday, I
watch the Lizzie Bennet Diaries on
YouTube.

34. People came from Berkley, California
Eugene, Oregon Houston, Texas and
San Diego, California.
Check Answer
QUESTION 10
Where should the semicolon go?

35. People came from Berkley, California;
Eugene, Oregon; Houston, Texas; and
San Diego, California.
WHY: This is an example of the semicolon acting as a super-
comma. If each location was separated by just a comma, the reader
would not know whether Berkley and California referred to two
places or the city inside the state.
Next Question
ANSWER TO QUESTION 10
Where should the semicolon go?

36. 1.) The next book we will read
together is The Great Gatsby.
2.) Stephanie plans to teach
anthropology to high school
students one day.
3.) The big dog barked ferociously,
scaring the little boy.
A.) He screamed before running as
fast as he could the other way.
B.) Lauren works for the radio
station.
C.) Playing basketball is a fun and
healthy pastime.
Column One Column Two
Check Answer
QUESTION 11
Which sentences can be connected by a semicolon?

37. Column One Column Two
WHY: Both sentences talk about the boy’s reaction to the dog.
Next Question
ANSWER TO QUESTION 11
Which sentences can be connected by a semicolon?
1.) The next book we will read
together is The Great Gatsby.
2.) Stephanie plans to teach
anthropology to high school
students one day.
3.) The big dog barked ferociously,
scaring the little boy.
A.) He screamed before running as
fast as he could the other way.
B.) Lauren works for the radio
station.
C.) Playing basketball is a fun and
healthy pastime.

38. Tropical islands are great places to live
they have beautiful beaches, and the
weather is great all year.
Check Answer
QUESTION 12
Where should the semicolon go?

39. Tropical islands are great places to
live; they have beautiful beaches,
and the weather is great all year.
WHY: The text before and after the semicolon is a complete
sentence. The second sentence explains the first.
Next Question
ANSWER TO QUESTION 12
Where should the semicolon go?

40. 1.) He cannot decide whether to buy a
house in Miami or on Cocoa Beach.
2.) Popsicles are on sale for fifty
percent off at the store.
3.) My friend was feeling extremely
sick before she threw up in class.
A.) I took a picture of a giraffe on my
African safari.
B.) I stayed with her in the nurse’s
office that afternoon.
C.) He is reading his favorite book,
The Phantom Tollbooth, now.
Column One Column Two
Check Answer
QUESTION 13
Which sentences can be connected by a semicolon?

41. Column One Column Two
WHY: These sentences are related because they talk about the
speaker’s friend’s illness.
Next Question
ANSWER TO QUESTION 13
Which sentences can be connected by a semicolon?
1.) He cannot decide whether to buy a
house in Miami or on Cocoa Beach.
2.) Popsicles are on sale for fifty
percent off at the store.
3.) My friend was feeling extremely
sick before she threw up in class.
A.) I took a picture of a giraffe on my
African safari.
B.) I stayed with her in the nurse’s
office that afternoon.
C.) He is reading his favorite book,
The Phantom Tollbooth now.

42. I can’t eat strawberries they give me a
rash.
Check Answer
QUESTION 14
Where should the semicolon go?

43. I can’t eat strawberries; they give me a
rash.
WHY: These two sentences relate to one another because the
second explains why the speaker cannot complete the action in the
first sentence (eating strawberries).
Next Question
ANSWER TO QUESTION 14
Where should the semicolon go?

44. 1.) We adopted my little brother last
month from Guatemala.
2.) My family went to Walt Disney
World over Thanksgiving Break for
the first time.
3.) Margaret loves to chase the ice
cream truck down the road.
A.) He is wearing a tuxedo for the
wedding.
B.) We had a great time riding all of
the rides and watching all of the
shows.
C.) My dog got pregnant this
summer.
Column One Column Two
Check Answer
QUESTION 15
Which sentences can be connected by a semicolon?

45. Column One Column Two
WHY: Both sentences talk about the trip to Walt Disney World.
None of the other sentences are related.
Next Question
ANSWER TO QUESTION 15
Which sentences can be connected by a semicolon?
1.) We adopted my little brother last
month from Guatemala.
2.) My family went to Walt Disney
World over Thanksgiving Break for
the first time.
3.) Margaret loves to chase the ice
cream truck down the road.
A.) He is wearing a tuxedo for the
wedding.
B.) We had a great time riding all of
the rides and watching all of the
shows.
C.) My dog got pregnant this
summer.

46. He ate six hotdogs he got a
stomachache.
Check Answer
QUESTION 16
Where should the semicolon go?

47. He ate six hotdogs; he got a
stomachache.
WHY: The second sentence shows the result of the original action
(eating six hotdogs).
Next Question
ANSWER TO QUESTION 16
Where should the semicolon go?

48. 1.) The chalking event was cancelled
when it started to rain.
2.) Class was cancelled today.
3.) Christopher ate all his vegetables
so he could have desert.
A.) Mr. Jones was at home sick.
B.) The alphabet soup had every
letter except a “Z.”
C.) Last weekend we all played
Monopoly for her birthday.
Column One Column Two
Check Answer
QUESTION 17
Which sentences can be connected by a semicolon?

49. Column One Column Two
WHY: The sentences are related because the second sentence
explains the reason for the first sentence—class was cancelled
today because Mr. Jones was at home sick.
Next Question
ANSWER TO QUESTION 17
Which sentences can be connected by a semicolon?
1.) The chalking event was cancelled
when it started to rain.
2.) Class was cancelled today.
3.) Christopher ate all his vegetables
so he could have desert.
A.) Mr. Jones was at home sick.
B.) The alphabet soup had every
letter except a “Z.”
C.) Last weekend we all played
Monopoly for her birthday.

50. Relatives at the family reunion
included my older brother, Bob my
cousin, Mandy and my great aunt,
Mary.
Check Answer
QUESTION 18
Where should the semicolon go?

51. Relatives at the family reunion
included my older brother, Bob; my
cousin, Mandy; and my great aunt,
Mary.
WHY: This is another example of the semicolon as a super-
comma. Each family member in the list has a comma before his or
her name. Since commas are part of the items in the list, a
semicolon can make the list clear.
Next Question
ANSWER TO QUESTION 18
Where should the semicolon go?

52. 1.) Anthony wandered around the
monuments in Washington, D.C.
2.) Sarah carried milk and cookies
to class for her students.
3.) I really wanted the car, but I
walked out of the dealership without
it.
A.) It was far too expensive.
B.) The truck broke down at the
edge of the highway.
C.) The girl’s hair was so curly her
mother had to cut out her brush
when it got stuck.
Column One Column Two
Check Answer
QUESTION 19
Which sentences can be connected by a semicolon?

53. Column One Column Two
WHY: Both sentences discuss the car. The second sentence
provides the reason the speaker did not buy it.
Next Question
ANSWER TO QUESTION 19
Which sentences can be connected by a semicolon?
1.) Anthony wandered around the
monuments in Washington, D.C.
2.) Sarah carried milk and cookies
to class for her students.
3.) I really wanted the car, but I
walked out of the dealership without
it.
A.) It was far too expensive.
B.) The truck broke down at the
edge of the highway.
C.) The girl’s hair was so curly her
mother had to cut out her brush
when it got stuck.

54. Andrew plays the harmonica Matthew,
the base Adrian, the guitar and Nathan,
the drums.
Check Answer
QUESTION 20
Where should the semicolon go?

55. Andrew plays the harmonica; Matthew,
the base; Adrian, the guitar; and
Nathan, the drums.
WHY: This sentence is another example of the semicolon as a
super-comma. In this case, the writer eliminated the word “plays” for
stylistic effect in the clauses after “Andrew plays the harmonica.”
The writer replaced it with a comma, so a semicolon is needed to
clarify the list.
Back to Start
ANSWER TO QUESTION 20
Where should the semicolon go?

56. EXTRAS!

57. SEMICOLONS ARE EVERYWHERE!
They even make it to the
New York Times.
“To use a semicolon properly can be an act of
faith. It’s a way of saying to the reader, who is
already holding one bag of groceries, here, I
know it’s a lot, but can you take another? And
then (in the case of William James) another?
And another? And one more? Which sounds, of
course, dreadful, and like just the sort of
discourtesy a writer ought strenuously to avoid.
But the truth is that there can be something
wonderful in being festooned in carefully
balanced bags; there’s a kind of exquisite
tension, a feeling of delicious responsibility, in
being so loaded up that you seem to have half a
grocery store suspended from your body.”

58. ONLINE RESOURCES
• Full Oatmeal Graphic Explanation
• Fun and Easy Semicolon Rules
• Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips
• Once and For All: How to Use a Semicolon

59. ANOTHER EXPLANATION

60. EVEN MORE EXPLANATIONS
• Scribendi
• Purdue Owl
• Using Semicolons in Spanish
• Difference between English and Spanish
Semicolons

61. ADDITIONAL PRACTICE
• The Semicolon Wars
• Comma and Semicolon Quiz
• Semicolon Jeopardy
• Semicolon Quiz
• Practice Quiz
Back to Start