Mekita Rivas, SNR communications associate, publishes a biweekly feature called "Grammar Guru."
Every other week, the Grammar Guru will share writing tips to help make your work as polished as possible. Some of these tips may address common spelling errors, while others will examine the many nuances of the English language.
Grammar Guru Tip #45
Since it isn't commonly used, the semicolon tends to cause more confusion than most punctuation marks. So what purpose does the semicolon serve? Its main use is to separate two independent clauses (or complete sentences) that are closely related in meaning. Also, avoid using a comma when a semicolon is needed.
Example:
Some people take notes on iPads; others take notes with paper and pen.
She like most desserts; however, she does not care for chocolate cake.
NOT: The cake was rich, it was also homemade.
BUT: The cake was rich; it was also homemade.
Pro tip: When items in a series themselves contain commas, separate them with semicolons.
Example:
We visited Omaha, Nebraska; Denver, Colorado; and Austin, Texas.
Need some grammar guidance? The UNL Style Guide (http://unlcms.unl.edu/ucomm/styleguide/) is a great resource for all university employees. If you have writing questions that the style guide doesn't answer, feel free to email the Grammar Guru at mrivas@unl.edu.