Punctuation questions are often some of the quickest points you can earn on the ACT English section. Semicolons are a great example: once you know the rule, most semicolon questions become very straightforward.
There are two ways the ACT uses semicolons. The first is by far the most common (you’ll see it almost all the time).
Just like with comma questions, the key is understanding what kinds of clauses a semicolon can connect. Here’s the core idea:
An independent clause can stand alone as a complete sentence. When you have two related independent clauses, you can place a semicolon between them.
First, make sure you have two independent clauses:
Independent Clause 1: He likes red.
Independent Clause 2: She likes green.
To use a semicolon correctly, combine the two independent clauses and place a semicolon between them:
He likes red; she likes green.
Here’s how not to use a semicolon:
Dependent Clause: With pepper spray in his eyes
Independent Clause: He could not see clearly
With pepper spray in his eyes; he could not see clearly.
The semicolon isn’t doing its job here. A semicolon can only connect two independent clauses, but the clause on the left side isn’t independent.
Use this checklist whenever you see a semicolon:
If both sides are independent clauses, the semicolon can be correct. If either side is not independent, the semicolon is wrong.
Do you know the answer?
Answer: The clause on the left side of the semicolon isn’t an independent clause. It’s a dependent clause, so a semicolon can’t go here.
A semicolon connects two independent clauses. But there’s another punctuation mark that does the same thing. What is it? Hover your cursor over the spoiler below to see the answer.
Hint 1:
It’s the most common punctuation mark.
Hint 2:
You probably use it dozens of times every day.
Hint 3:
It’s likely the first punctuation mark you learned how to use.
Do you know the answer yet?
Answer: The period.
A semicolon functions like a period on the ACT: both separate two independent clauses.
That leads to a very useful test-day rule:
Fact 1: There can never be two correct answers to an ACT question.
Fact 2: The period and semicolon do the same job. So if two answer choices are identical except that one uses a period and the other uses a semicolon, both choices must be wrong.
Here’s an example:
Because clowns have always scared me. I’ve never gone to the circus.
A. No change
B. me; I’ve
C. me, I’ve
D. me, so I’ve
Choices A and B are identical except for the punctuation (period vs. semicolon). Since those marks do the same thing, if one were correct, the other would also be correct - which can’t happen on the ACT. So you can eliminate both.
A.
No change
B.me; I’ve
C. me, I’ve
D. me, so I’ve
Now you only need to evaluate the remaining punctuation choices.
Knowing everything you know now, see if you can pick the correct answer.
Answer: C. me, I’ve
To the left of the comma in choice C is a dependent clause (“Because clowns have always scared me”). To the right is an independent clause (“I’ve never gone to the circus”). Choice C is correct because a comma can separate an introductory dependent clause from the independent clause that follows.
We wouldn’t use a semicolon or a period here because those separate two independent clauses, and the left side isn’t independent.
Choice D is incorrect because the word “so” changes the structure: it makes the right side dependent on the left, which doesn’t fit the sentence as written.
This punctuation setup shows up frequently on the ACT, so keep this elimination trick in mind.
You know how to use a semicolon: it connects two related independent clauses.
You can also use semicolons in school writing when you want to link two closely related sentences. Just don’t overuse them - using them occasionally adds variety, but using them too often can make your writing feel heavy.
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