1. On occasion, a writer may decide that the next sentence is so closely connected to the previous one that a slight break is more appropriate than a new sentence. A semicolon can be used for this purpose.
Examples:
No one was seriously hurt in the accident; one man suffered a broken
finger.
The meeting is scheduled for 4 o'clock; this represents a change to the time on
the agenda.
slight breaks preferable to
new sentences (The semicolons are okay.)
(magazine article)
The manager did not approve the plan; he suggested several changes.
2. Semicolons can be used to replace words like "and", "but" and "or". (These all called
"Conjunctions".)
Examples:
The manager did not approve the plan; he suggested several changes.
(In this example, ", but" could be written in the place of the semicolon.)
Craig joined the Army; Darren joined the Marines.
(semicolon replaces ", but")
Eat oranges throughout the journey; you may catch scurvy.
(semicolon replaces ", or")
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IN SUMMARY
You can merge two sentences together with a semicolon. The second sentence is usually short and closely connected to the first.
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OVERKILL
Using a semicolon to extend a sentence is a very handy. However, if you find yourself using them regularly, you should probably adjust the style of your writing.
NOT A COMMA
It is possible to link two sentences together with a semicolon and with words like "and", "or" and "but". You cannot use a comma. This is a very common mistake.
Elsa wrote many children's novels, she also wrote fifteen
horrors. 
The Loch Ness Monster was spotted 8 times in the 1960s, I
camped there for a year and did not see it once, I caught dozens of trout though.

I arranged to meet Jeremy (the new gamekeeper) on the hour, he will have
gone home by 10 past.
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