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Examples from Our Class

• ✅ They bring together people of different backgrounds and remind them of shared goals; this can foster a sense of pride and unity.

• ❌ They bring together people of different backgrounds and remind them of shared goals, this can foster a sense of pride and unity.

  • Error: comma splice. A comma alone isn’t strong enough to connect two sentences.

• ❌ They bring together people of different backgrounds and remind them of shared goals; This can foster a sense of pride and unity.

  • Note: The semicolon is correct! The only issue is the capital T in “This.” It’s a minor error, but usually the word after a semicolon should not be capitalized unless it’s a proper noun.

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Common Mistakes with Semicolons

1. Comma Splice

   • Wrong: The dog barked, the cat ran.

   • Right: The dog barked; the cat ran.

2. Capitalizing After a Semicolon

   • Wrong: … ; This can help.

   • Right: … ; this can help.

3. Incomplete Sentence After a Semicolon

   • Wrong: I like pizza; and tacos.

   • Right: I like pizza; I also like tacos.

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Try It Yourself

Combine each pair with a semicolon:

1. The sky grew dark. The stars began to appear.

2. I forgot my homework. My teacher was not pleased.

3. Our team practiced hard. We wanted to win the game.

(Check yourself: each result should be two complete sentences joined by a semicolon.)

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Semicolons + Transition Words

Sometimes you want to link two complete sentences with a transition word (like however, therefore, for example, in fact). A comma isn’t enough — you need a semicolon before the transition word and a comma after it.

Formula:
Sentence A ; transition word, sentence B.

Examples:

• ✅ They bring together people of different backgrounds and remind them of shared goals; therefore, this can foster a sense of pride and unity.

• ✅ The concert was canceled; however, the tickets will be refunded.

• ✅ She studied hard; in fact, she reviewed every night for a week.

 

Common Mistakes:

• ❌ They bring together people … , therefore this can foster … (comma splice: comma isn’t strong enough).

• ❌ They bring together people … ; therefore this can foster … (missing comma after therefore).

 

Practice

Combine each pair of sentences using a semicolon + transition word (you pick the right one).

1. We planned a picnic. It started to rain. (use “however”)

2. He didn’t prepare for the test. He still passed. (use “in fact”)

3. The bus was late. We still arrived on time. (use “nevertheless”)

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Crown Jewels Quiz

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