The semicolon (;) is a form of stop punctuation. We use a semicolon at the end of a complete thought, just as we do with a period. A period comes at the end of a sentence. A semicolon goes in the middle of a sentence, between two complete thoughts.
Look at this example:
It is hot today; I am going to the pool.
This sentence has two complete thoughts.
It is hot today.
I am going to the pool.
We join the two complete thoughts into one sentence because the thoughts are related. We use the semicolon between the two thoughts to show that they are related thoughts.
Here are some more examples of sentences with a semicolon joining two related thoughts:
The sun is going down; we need to turn on the lights.
I hope you brought a sweater; the temperature is dropping.
Florida is a fun vacation destination; let’s plan a trip for next spring.
Dogs are good companions; they are known as man’s best friend.
Use a semicolon in the middle of a sentence when joining two complete thoughts that are related to the same idea.
▶Now you try it. Find the place in this sentence where you need to insert a semicolon. I love to sing I plan to join the school chorus. Did you find the place where one complete thought ends and the next begins? That’s the place for a semicolon.