Expressive Punctuation: Semicolons

Useful semicolon patterns

Statement; explanation.

Another way to use a semicolon is to provide an explanation for a statement.

I felt almost as cold in the house; while we had the coal stove, we had no coal.

The Glass CastleJeanette WallsSource

He complained he was feeling cold; although he had a thick jacket, the rain had soaked through.

We didn't want to cross the desert; while we had supplies, we had no sense of direction.

We were sweltering in the ampitheatre; while it did provide shade, the metal roof radiated an oven-like heat.

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