For some reason, semicolons are intimidating. Maybe it’s because they look crazier than they are, or maybe it’s because students are never really forced to use them since we have commas and periods to take their place. Either way, semicolons are your friends and they\u2019re here to improve your writing. Knowing when to use semicolons isn\u2019t as hard as you think, they\u2019re actually one of the easiest concepts you\u2019ll cover while preparing for the SAT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If your instinct is to google \u201cHow to use semicolons\u201d, you\u2019re in the right place. This is everything you\u2019ll need to know about how to use semicolons correctly while taking the SAT. We\u2019re starting with the basics, we’ll go over some common mistakes, and then we’ll do some practice questions. Buckle up! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019ve probably heard of semicolon\u2019s cousin, the colon. While colons are typically used to introduce a quote, list, or explanation, semicolons are used to separate complete thoughts that are related to each other. Sentences with semicolons typically look different than those with colons. Semicolons and colons have very different purposes, so maybe they\u2019re more like distant cousins, related only by marriage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Semicolons are essentially a comma with a period floating above it. A good way to remember how to use semicolons correctly (and distinguish them from colons) is to remember that most semicolons can be replaced with a comma or a period, and both are right in front of you in the actual symbol itself. How lucky! Colons could never.<\/p>\n\n\n\n