32d Avoid common misuses of the semicolon.

Do not use a semicolon in the following situations.

BETWEEN A SUBORDINATE CLAUSE AND THE REST OF THE SENTENCE

An example.

BETWEEN AN APPOSITIVE AND THE WORD IT REFERS TO

An example reads, The scientists were fascinated by the species Argyroneta aquatica (strikethrough) semicolon (end strikethrough) (insert) comma (end inserts) a spider that lives underwater.

TO INTRODUCE A LIST

An example reads, Some of my favorite celebrities have their own blogs (strikethrough) semicolon (end strikethrough) (insert) colon (end inserts) Katy Perry, Beyonce, and Zooey Deschanel.

BETWEEN INDEPENDENT CLAUSES JOINED BY AND, BUT, OR, NOR, FOR, SO, OR YET

An example reads, Five of the applicants had worked with spreadsheets (strikethrough) semicolon (end strikethrough) (insert) comma (end inserts) but only one was familiar with database management.

EXCEPTION: If one or both of the independent clauses contain a comma, you may use a semicolon with a coordinating conjunction between the clauses.