Alternatives to the semicolon

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Semicolons
  • Full stop

    A semicolon can generally be replaced by a full stop.

    Exemple adequatThe Governing Council agreed to the measure. The Student Council rejected it.


    However, the semicolon suggests that the two shorter sentences are more closely related than two consecutive sentences usually are.

  • A connecting word

    A semicolon can also be replaced by a suitable connecting word (and, or, but, while, yet) with a joining comma.

    Exemple adequatThe Governing Council agreed to the measure, yet the Student Council rejected it.


    However, certain connecting words must be preceded by a semicolon or full stop. The most common are consequently, hence, however, meanwhile, nevertheless, therefore and thus.

    Exemple adequatThe two sides have refused to negotiate; consequently, the measure has been suspended.
Universitat de Barcelona. Serveis Lingüístics
Darrera actualització: 29-9-2022
Recommended citation:
«Alternatives to the semicolon» [en línia]. A: Llibre d’estil de la Universitat de Barcelona. Barcelona: Universitat de Barcelona. Serveis Lingüístics. <https://www.ub.edu/llibre-estil/criteri.php?id=2299> [consulta: 26 abril 2024].