Question

Which of the following is the main use of a semicolon?

Answer 1

Answer:

A. to join independent clauses that appear to be connected by a conjunctive adverb

Explanation:

A semicolon is the symbol ";" and it is used in a variety of situations:

- to separate a series/list that already includes commas

e.g. I travelled to Miami, Florida; Austin, Texas; and Los Angeles, California.

- to join independent clauses that are closely related in thought:

e.g. When I arrived, I thought I would have time to buy a snack; I didn't.

- and many more

However, the main usage of a semicolon is joining independent clauses that "appear to be connected by a conjunctive adverb":

e.g. She didn't study; thus, she failed the test.

The answer is A.