How to use a ";"

[CanadianCat]

I feel dumb asking this...

Its been a few years since I took English so maybe there are a few smart people that can help me.

How do you use “;”

Ive been using it in a list. Such as, “I'm going to work on;”

Can anyone tell me how the proper way to use it is?

[Jase]

Colons are for lists:

Semicolons are for separating complete thoughts; some say you do it just like this.

[TerriblePizza]

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/semicolon

[Zod]

Colons are for

How many answers do you have for this?

[Jase]

I don't know. How many things are less than 10" in diameter?

[Captroop]

I'm a semicolon fiend; I use them all the time. It's my favorite punctuation; often used to my own detriment.

On the other hand, I don't use colons very often, because: when I'm writing out longhand I don't like making lists, colons are only useful when making a bulleted or comma-delimited itemized list, and this looks like crap.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

[Guild]

It's a worthless piece of punctuation; I suggest forgetting about it.

It's a worthless piece of punctuation. I suggest forgetting about it.

[Jase]

It's a worthless piece of punctuation; I suggest forgetting about it.

It's a worthless piece of punctuation. I suggest forgetting about it.

It's more fluid and less jarring when reading; you are a poo poo head.

[Zod]

She turned me into a newt; it got better.

[Captroop]

Kral doesn't know how to use a semicolon; his example with the semi-colon isn't even the correct usage; it would only be a period there.

Semicolons can be used to streamline writing; reducing the number of sentances needed complete a thought.

Semicolons can be used to streamline writing. Semicolons can minimize the number of sentances used to complete a thought.

[Jase]

Zod's post reminds me of something; are newts smaller than 10 inches?

[Zod]

Newts in your anus is a dangerous thing; they often lose their tails.

[Jase]

Kral doesn't know how to use a semicolon; his example with the semi-colon isn't even the correct usage; it would only be a period there.

Semicolons can be used to streamline writing; reducing the number of sentances needed complete a thought.

Semicolons can be used to streamline writing. Semicolons can minimize the number of sentances used to complete a thought.

Sentence 2 would be a comma because there is no subject in the second phrase.

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