A semicolon (;) is a punctuation mark that is used to connect closely related ideas in a sentence. It serves several purposes, including:
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Linking Independent Clauses: It can separate two independent clauses that are closely related but could stand as sentences on their own. For example: "I have a big test tomorrow; I can’t go out tonight."
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Separating Items in a Complex List: When items in a list contain commas, semicolons can be used to clarify the separation between those items. For example: "On our trip, we visited Paris, France; Berlin, Germany; and Rome, Italy."
Overall, the semicolon helps to create a smoother flow in writing by connecting thoughts that are interconnected.