1. She was not prepared for an overnight stay, that is; she had not brought a change of clothes.
- She was not prepared for an overnight stay; that is, she had not brought a change of clothes.
- She was not prepared for an overnight stay: that is; she had not brought a change of clothes.
- She was not prepared for an overnight stay, that is she had not brought a change of clothes.
- No error
2. Check back with me next week; I will have a better idea of the schedule by then.
- Check back with me next week, I will have a better idea of the schedule by then.
- Check back with me next week I will have a better idea of the schedule by then.
- Check back with me; next week I will have a better idea of the schedule by then.
- No error
3. This organization has chapters in Wilmington, Delaware, Hanover, New Hampshire, and New York, New York.
- Wilmington; Delaware, Hanover; New Hampshire, and New York; New York.
- Wilmington, Delaware; Hanover, New Hampshire; and New York, New York.
- Wilmington Delaware, Hanover New Hampshire, and New York New York.
- No error
4. When I am done with my work I will help you with yours and then your work will be done sooner.
- When I am done with my work, I will help you with yours, and then your work will be done sooner.
- When I am done, with my work I will help you with yours and then; your work will be done sooner.
- When I am done with my work, I will help you with yours; and then your work will be done sooner.
- No error
5. Please bring needed camping supplies for example a tent, a sleeping bag, and a lantern.
- Please bring needed camping supplies; for example, a tent, a sleeping bag, and a lantern.
- Please bring needed camping supplies, for example, a tent, a sleeping bag, and a lantern.
- Either answer A or answer B
- No error
6. Some famous trios include Athos, Porthos, and Aramis; Huey, Dewey, and Louie; and Moe, Larry, and Curly.
- Athos; Porthos; and Aramis, Huey; Dewey; and Louie, and Moe; Larry; and Curly.
- Athos Porthos and Aramis, Huey Dewey and Louie, and Moe Larry and Curly.
- Athos, Porthos and Aramis, Huey, Dewey and Louie, and Moe, Larry and Curly.
- No error
7. I am unable to attend, however my representative will attend in my place.
- I am unable to attend, however, my representative will attend in my place.
- I am unable to attend; however, my representative will attend in my place.
- I am unable to attend however my representative will attend in my place.
- No error
8. I know you’re there; I can see you trying to hide behind the sofa.
- I know you’re there I can see you trying; to hide behind the sofa.
- I know you’re there, I can see you; trying to hide behind the sofa.
- I know you’re there I can see you trying to hide; behind the sofa.
- No error
9. She knew her way around the building, she had been there before.
- She knew her way around the building; she had been there before.
- She knew her way; around the building, she had been there before.
- She knew; her way around the building, she had been there before.
- No error
10. They were ready, they were willing, they were able, and they were there.
- They were ready, they were willing, they were able; and they were there.
- They were ready; they were willing; they were able, and they were there.
- They were ready they were willing they were able; and they were there.
- No error
Answers – Semicolon Usage
1. A: A semicolon is used to separate two independent clauses in one sentence. It is also used before introductory words like “that is,” “namely,” “for example,” etc. that introduce a complete sentence/independent clause, with a comma following the introductory word/phrase. The semicolon is also used to introduce a list that follows a complete sentence/independent clause. This example meets all of these criteria. Introductory words are neither preceded by a colon nor followed by a semicolon (B). A comma is never used to separate two independent clauses (C); doing so results in a comma splice error. Independent clauses are separated by a semicolon, a period, or a conjunction.
2. D: This sentence is correctly punctuated. The semicolon separates two independent clauses in the absence of a conjunction (e.g., “and”). Using a comma (A) is an error called a comma splice. A comma would only be correct if one of the clauses were dependent (e.g., “If you check back with me next week, I will have a better idea of the schedule by then”). No punctuation between the two independent clauses (B) creates a run-on sentence, also an error. The semicolon is incorrectly placed in choice C: It makes the second clause redundant by beginning with “next week” and ending with “by then.” This semicolon position would only be correct if the second clause contained just the first of these two modifiers, e.g., “next week I will have a better idea of the schedule.” (“I will have a better idea of the schedule by then” does not make sense without “next week.”)
3. B: When listing items in a series that have internal punctuation, such as the commas between each city and its respective state as in this example, separate the items using semicolons. The example incorrectly uses all commas. This makes the meaning unclear by not differentiating cities from states. Choice A has this rule backward. It should be City, State; City, State; etc. No punctuation between city and state (C) is incorrect.
4. C: When two independent clauses are connected by a coordinating conjunction (“and” in this case) and the first clause contains one or more commas, separate the two clauses with a semicolon. The example has no punctuation (except the period at the end) and is thus a run-on sentence. It is correct to separate the dependent clause (when I am done with my work) from the first independent clause (I will help you with yours) with a comma; however, it is incorrect to separate the clause having the internal comma from the other clause (A). A comma is incorrectly placed between “am done” and “with my work” in (B), making it seem as if the prepositional phrase modifies “I will help you” and confusing the meaning.
5. C: When a complete sentence/independent clause is followed by introductory words like “for example,” “such as,” “i.e.,” “e.g.,” etc. that introduce a list of items and the list is not a complete sentence/independent clause, either a comma or semicolon can be used to separate the complete sentence /independent clause from the remainder of the sentence. The semicolon should be used when both sentence parts, before and after the introductory word/phrase, are independent clauses. In this case, the list following “for example” is not a clause but a phrase, so either a semicolon or a comma is acceptable. (A comma should be placed after the introductory word/phrase in either case.)
6. D: This is punctuated correctly. When listing a series of groups with internal commas, separate each group with a semicolon. Semicolons are not used between single members of the same series or group (A), and each group should not be separated by a comma. No punctuation between members of the group (B) is incorrect, as is separating the groups with commas. Using commas both internally to separate group members and also to separate each group from the others (C) makes the meaning unclear, and also violates the rule to separate word groups or series of three or more with a semicolon.
7. B: The semicolon is correct because it separates two independent clauses; i.e., each clause could stand alone as a complete sentence. The example would only be correct if a dependent clause or phrase followed “however,” as in “I am unable to attend, however hard I try.” No internal punctuation (C) creates the error known as a run-on sentence.
8. D: There is no error in the sentence example as written. Both parts of the sentence are independent clauses and therefore separated by a semicolon. No punctuation after the first clause (A) makes a run-on sentence out of the first part, and it is incorrect to place a semicolon between the auxiliary verb and verb (trying + to hide), which together represent a grammatical unit (trying to hide). It is incorrect to separate independent clauses with a comma (B). It is also incorrect to place a semicolon between an independent clause (I can see you) and a phrase (“trying to hide behind the sofa,” which has no subject) without any introductory words like “namely,” “that is,” etc. The lack of punctuation also makes a run-on sentence out of the first part of (C), and it is incorrect to place a semicolon between a verb (hide) and a prepositional phrase modifying it (behind the sofa).
9. A: This sentence is made up of two independent clauses. Each clause would make a complete sentence by itself. There is no coordinating conjunction, like “because,” “since,” “for,” etc. Therefore there must be a semicolon. The comma in the example is incorrect and would only be used if one part of the sentence were not an independent clause. It is incorrect to place a semicolon between “her way” and “around the building” (B). A semicolon is only used between two phrases when one or both contain internal commas. A semicolon is never placed between a verb and its object (C).
10. B: Each part of this sentence is an independent clause. A semicolon is needed between the first and second clause, and between the second and third clause, because they are not connected by any conjunction (like “and”). A semicolon would also be acceptable, but is not required, between the third and fourth clause, because they are connected by the conjunction “and.” A comma is used when independent clauses are joined by a coordinating conjunction such as “and,” “but,” “or,” or “nor,” as they are here. The punctuation in choice A is the reverse of the correct punctuation. The lack of punctuation in the first part of choice C makes it a run-on sentence.