Use a semicolon to separate two separate, yet independent, clauses. Each clause could stand alone as a grammatically correct sentence.
- The lecturer wore incredibly thick glasses; he often misplaced them atop his head.
A semicolon is also used in place of commas to add clarity in a long or complex sentence containing a list. Do not use a semicolon to introduce a list of items.
- While in Canada, I visited Toronto, Ontario; Regina, Saskatchewan; Calgary, Alberta; and Vancouver, British Columbia.
- Dunedin is famous for having; the steepest street in the world, an albatross colony, and the first university in New Zealand.