This slideshow will give you an overview of the two main uses of semicolons.

1. USING SEMICOLONS
They’re not just for winky faces!
;)

2. Semicolons (;) have
two main purposes:

3. 1. Connecting closely related
sentences.
2. Separating list items that
have commas in them.

4. I had a lot of homework;
it took me all night to
finish.

5. I had a lot of homework;
it took me all night to
finish.

6. I made chocolate chip
cookies; there’s only one
left.

7. I made chocolate chip
cookies; there’s only one
left.

8. Our company has offices in
San Diego, California;
Fargo, North Dakota;
Austin, Texas; Louisville,
Kentucky; and Provo, Utah.

9. Our company has offices in San
Diego, California; Fargo, North
Dakota; Austin, Texas; Louisville,
Kentucky; and Provo, Utah.

10. Today we met with
Jack, the engineer;
Claire, the programmer;
and Sandrine, the
accountant.

11. Now, it’s
your turn!

12. ADD THE SEMICOLON:

13. 1) My grandpa bought
me an ice cream cone
it dribbled all over my
shirt.

14. 1) My grandpa bought
me an ice cream cone
it; dribbled all over my
shirt.

15. ADD SEMICOLONS AND
COMMAS:

16. 2) We traveled to Athens
Greece Santiago Chile Cairo
Egypt Tokyo Japan and
Montreal Canada.

17. 2) We traveled to Athens,
Greece; Santiago, Chile;
Cairo, Egypt; Tokyo,
Japan; and Montreal,
Canada.

18. Ciao,
Baby!