With Asyndetic Independent Clauses

Use a semicolon between independent clauses not joint by AND, BUT, FOR, OR, NOR, YET, SO.

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Rewrite the following sentences replacing the commas and conjunctions with semicolons.

1. Math is easy for my friend, but it’s difficult for me.

2. I like our math teacher, but I don’t care for the class.

3. History is my best subject, and economics is my worst.

4. I’m studying Chinese because I want to become an expert on the Far East.

5. Foreign languages are easy for me, but reading is difficult.

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Punctuate the following with semicolons.

1. My friend thought the movie was terrific I thought it was boring.

2. I really don’t care to see films with a lot of violence I don’t like musicals either.

3. I like to go to movies I never watch them on TV.

4. I don’t go to movies they are expensive, and I am on a tight budget.

5. Nobody likes the theater near the campus the seats are very uncomfortable.

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In which of the examples might a semicolon be preferred to the full stop?

1. Neurotic men, from Lord Byron to Cary Grant, have been admired for dominating their condition. Neurotic women, notably Marilyn Monroe, have been admiring for surrendering to it.

2. Sir John was found guilty of driving with double the legal limit of alcohol in his bloodstream. ‘You are a very foolish man’, said the judge, ‘but on this occasion I shall turn a blind eye to your folly.’

3. At about two in the morning, the last customers left the bar. The next day, I was awakened early by the sound of laughter outside my window.

4. In winter, I bring the geraniums into the house. All the other plants I leave outside.

5. The strong kept on walking until they reached the safety of the woods. The weak stopped to rest by the side of the road.

6. It was good to be in Italy at last. My grandmother had traveled a lot in Europe, but the rest of the family had little or no curiosity about the Old World.