English · Original worked example
Use a semicolon between two complete thoughts
Learn when a semicolon can join clauses and how to punctuate transitions such as however. Try an original editing question with complete feedback.
Before you begin
Useful foundation: Recognize an independent clause: a subject, a verb, and a complete thought.
Your goal: Check both sides of a semicolon and distinguish a transition from a coordinating conjunction.
A semicolon can join two closely related independent clauses. A transition such as however or therefore does not itself join clauses. A common pattern is: complete clause; however, complete clause.
Work through an example
The archive was closed; however, its online catalog remained available.
- “The archive was closed” can stand as a complete sentence.
- “Its online catalog remained available” can also stand as a complete sentence.
- The semicolon joins those two independent clauses. “However” signals contrast; a comma follows it here.
- Check the meaning as well as the punctuation: the physical archive is closed, but its catalog can still be used.
Try a question yourself
Choose an answer, then check your reasoning. This public practice is not saved.
Read all answer explanations
The trail; was flooded by morning.: The semicolon separates the subject “trail” from its verb “was.” Neither side forms a complete independent clause.
The trail was flooded; the hikers chose another route. — correct answer: Both “The trail was flooded” and “the hikers chose another route” are independent clauses. The semicolon correctly joins the closely related thoughts.
The hikers chose; another route.: The semicolon separates “chose” from its object, “another route.” The words after the semicolon are not an independent clause.
Because the trail was flooded; the hikers chose another route.: “Because the trail was flooded” is a dependent clause. Follow it with a comma, not a semicolon, before the independent clause.
What to do next
Compare “; however,” with “, but” in complete sentences. Check whether the choices express the same relationship before selecting one.
Revisit the idea in a week using a different question. Repeating this example can help you understand it, but remembering its answer is not evidence of learning a new problem.
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