The semicolon may not be as complicated as you may think; it’s simply misunderstood and often misused by students during the RLA test. In short, a semicolon is a mashup between a comma and a period. Comma + period = semicolon.
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Parks and Recreation
Yep, it’s that simple but let’s talk more about how and when to use it.
The period:
A period is more definitive. It marks the end of a sentence, while a semicolon is more like a long pause, and then the sentence keeps going.
Think of a semicolon like a stop sign and a period like a red light.
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WordPress
If you’re reading out loud (or driving), you would make a brief stop when you get to a semicolon (or stop sign). This pause is not as long as what you would do when you see a period at the end of a sentence (or a stoplight).
After a period, you could start a new paragraph; with a semicolon, you can’t make such a leap.
Examples:
- Mark saw a dog driving a blue car down the street; he believed the dog was alone in the car. [semicolon]
- Mark saw a dog driving a blue car down the street. He is concerned about the dog and the other drivers on the road. [period]
The Comma:
A comma separates clauses along with a conjunction such as “but” and “or.” A semicolon separates two main clauses; they are often complete enough to stand on their own but are part of the same thought.
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SpongeBob SquarePants
We’ll leave Bikini Bottom and go back to the traffic light analogy for a moment. A comma indicates a short pause and functions similar to a yellow light, telling you to slow down as you read. A semicolon would still cause you to stop briefly, like at a stop sign.
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Hey Arnold
When you read with a comma in your sentence, you keep going despite taking a quick pause.
Examples:
- Eugene is excited about his new bike, but he doesn’t know how to ride it. [comma]
- Arnold and Gerald are watching Eugene leave on his bike; they all just noticed the stop sign right ahead. [semicolon]
While our dear friend Eugene learns the importance of his brakes and stop signs, we can share one additional option you can use when pausing in a sentence.
Introducing….
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SpongeBob SquarePants
The Colon:
Not that colon, even though it is important for bodily functions and deserves an honorable mention, we’re talking about the one that can start a list or clarify a command.
Examples:
- Your GED can help you do many things once you graduate: go to college, get a new job, and impress all your friends. [colon]
- Keep studying: we know you’ll do great! [colon]
That’s it for us, but we hope you’re as excited about English grammar as we are!
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Community
If you want to learn more, we have study guides, interactive tools, and practice tests in your student account at GED.com.
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Danielle W. Communications Manager. Word nerd. Middle-school spelling bee champ. Cupcake connoisseur.