NCO Primary Leadership Subjects
The Semicolon
The semicolon has several purposes:
Purpose
To separate two or more indent clauses not joined by coordinating conjunctions.
To separate independent clauses linked by transitional expressions.
To separate items in a series when commas have already been used.
Read the rules and examples for using semicolons in the table. Then practice
Rules
applying the rules in the exercises that follow.
Use a semicolon...
Examples
to separate independent clauses not
The soldiers were ready; it was
joined by coordinating conjunctions:
time to go.
and.
or.
The division advanced rapidly; by
but.
nor.
1400 it had reached the front.
before transitional words and phrases
We left at daybreak; however, our
such as:
route was so rough that by
however.
consequently.
nightfall we had progressed only 9
therefore.
moreover.
miles.
hence.
nevertheless.
The general had already heard the
furthermore.
for example.
briefing; therefore, he did not
as a result.
attend.
Note: These are followed by a comma
to separate items in a series that contain
We could try to find our way out
commas when confusion would result
through the low, dense jungle;
withdraw to Ormoc, which had not
yet fallen; or search for a safe,
passable route through the
mountains.
COL James Williams, the
commanding officer; MAJ Jack
Black, the S1; and MAJ Timothy
Green, the post engineer; attended
the conference.
Continued on next page
2-18
Writing Mechanics and Composition
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