semicolon: how and why

if you find yourself on this website, it’s likely you’ll run into a semicolon.

the semicolon is the best friend you never knew you needed. there are four ways to use it.

here’s the first:

in connecting related independent clauses.

use a semicolon to connect two complete sentences that share the same overarching theme.

correct: we need to discuss a new tagline; the old one is worn out.

incorrect: once the tagline is written; we’ll need new marketing material.

notice in the second sentence, the first clause is not a complete sentence; therefore, a semicolon is incorrect; use a comma.