<p>Hey guys</p>
<p>Need some help on the use of the semi-colon. When you insert a semi-colon into the sentence, it means that the group of words on either side of the semi-colon are essentially sentences that can stand on their own right?</p>
<p>So each group must have a subject/pronoun and verb right?</p>
<p>Hope I am on the right path and not needlessly confusing myself. Any help will be much appreciated :)</p>
<p>Correct, but they must be INDEPENDENT clauses, so they must have subjects and predicates but may not have subordinators (while, when, because, etc.) or coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS). Conjunctive adverbs (however, therefore) followed by commas are okay.</p>
<p>OK: I hate that dirty pig; he ate all my slop.
OK: I’m not as tall as Nate Robinson; therefore, my NBA career is but a fantasy.
Not OK<em>: I can’t believe it’s not butter; because it tastes just like the real thing.
Not OK</em>: I lost my syringe; so now I can’t ameliorate my withdrawal symptoms.</p>
<p>*in the “real” written world, this sort of thing is not altogether uncommon, but it’s a no go on the SAT.</p>
<p>Thanks mate :)</p>