Semicolon: learn to use correctly!

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O semicolon (; ) is a graphic sign used in text production to indicate a pause that is longer than the comma and shorter than the period.

It is, therefore, an intermediate punctuation mark between the comma and the period, being generally used to separate sentences within the same period. The semicolon can be used in speech that already contains a large number of commas.

They are widely used in legal texts (constitution, articles, bills, petitions, etc.), in order to list the elements, as we see in the Constitution of Brazil:

“Art. 1st The Federative Republic of Brazil, formed by the indissoluble union of States and Municipalities and the Federal District, constitutes a Democratic State of Law and has as foundations:

I - sovereignty;

II - citizenship;

III - the dignity of the human person;

IV - the social values of work and free enterprise;

V - political pluralism.”

In addition to legal texts, the semicolon is widely used in textbooks, instruction manuals and recipes.

Semicolon and Colon

There is a lot of confusion between the correct use of the semicolon and the

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two points, since both can be used in similar situations. However, they do have differences.

While the colons mark a pause in the speech presenting an explanation, exemplification, synthesis, enumeration and in direct speeches, the semicolon marks a longer pause and is used to separate clauses and elements in a clause.

Uses of Semicolon: Examples

See below for the main uses of the semicolon:

1. Separation of prayers

They separate coordinated sentences in which the comma has already been used a lot, or even when the text is very long, for example:

The seven wonders of the modern world represent monuments that are part of human history: the Coliseum in Italy; Chichén Itzá, in Mexico; Machu Picchu, in Peru; Christ the Redeemer, in Brazil; the Wall of China in China; the Ruins of Petra, Jordan; the Taj Mahal in India.

2. Separation or enumeration of elements in the sentence

They can be used to separate and enumerate the elements of a list, for example:

In the next chapter we will study the following themes: Ancient Age; Middle Ages; Contemporary age.

3. omission of verbs

When periods avoid the repetition of the verb, for example:

At the time of the crime Rafaela was with her friends; Joseph (was) with his parents.

4. Separation of adversative conjunctions

Used to mark longer pauses between sentences that use connectives (conjunctions), for example:

Tomorrow I go to work; however, I have not finished the report.

Uppercase or lowercase letters after the semicolon

One of the big questions that arises when we use the semicolon is the correct spelling of the upper and lower case letters.

Remember that as the semicolon is not the end of the sentence, the letters that appear after use are lowercase letters, for example:

The subjects that we have to study for the exam are: Brazilian literature; Portuguese literature; syntax and compound periods; morphology and morphological classes.

To learn more about the subject, read: Uppercase and Lowercase Letters: When to Use?