ABSTRACT
Providing more pause than a comma does but less than a period affords, a semicolon connects closely related independent clauses and, conversely, separates items in a series having internal punctuation. The most common semicolon fault is using it incorrectly in place of a comma.
The semicolon does not by itself magically produce closely related clauses that share a larger, collective meaning; the semicolon merely joins those clauses in a way that emphasizes their connection. Nor is using a semicolon to separate two independent clauses categorially superior to separating the clauses with a comma and coordinating conjunction, opting for two separate sentences, or revising the sentence to include a dependent clause. The meaning you wish to convey determines the appropriate sentence structure and corresponding punctuation. In some cases, a sentence having two independent clauses joined by a semicolon is the best choice; in other instances, it is not.
Some forms of expression—notably academic writing—frequently feature nuanced description and argument that mandate the kind of coordinated and sophisticated sentence structures enhanced by the semicolon, which explains why the mark is so appealing to academics, essayists, and critics.
