Semicolon before "And"
Using a Semicolon before "And"
You can use a semicolon before "and" (which is a type of conjunction) when the "and" is used to merge two independent clauses that contain their own commas. For example:- Shakespeare, a great dramatist, wrote a great many plays; and he wrote a number of sonnets too. (Using a semicolon before "and" is an outdated practice, but you can use one if you think it makes your sentence structure clearer.)
More about Semicolon with "And"
A sentence that has two independent clauses is called a compound sentence. Here is an easy example of a compound sentence:- I like cakes, and I like pies. (This sentence has two independent clauses (i.e., ones that could stand alone as sentences), making it a compound sentence. The two clauses are joined with the conjunction "and," which is preceded by a comma.)
- As she said, I like cakes; and I like pies, especially cheese and onion pies. (With this example, the independent clauses contain commas. To outrank those commas, it is acceptable to use a semicolon before the "and.")
More Examples of Semicolons Used before Conjunctions
Of course, this does not just apply to "and." It applies to other conjunctions too (e.g., "but," "or"). Here are some more examples:- In fact, rather surprisingly, the majestic pike is hardly used in cooking today; but in Victorian times, pastry-topped pike was a very common dish. (Here, a semicolon has been used before "but" to outrank the other commas in the sentence.)
- As the Dutch captain drafted the order banning the killing of the dodos, his sailors had the last one in their sights; and, as the muskets sounded, dodos were gone forever.
- Before a war, military science seems a real science, like astronomy; but, after a war, it seems more like astrology. (Author Rebecca West)
It's Old Fashioned
Many people consider it old fashioned to use a semicolon before "and" these days. However, if you think it makes your sentence structure clearer, then you can use a semicolon before "and."Learning Resources
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