Combining Independent Clauses

with Semicolons and Conjunctive Adverbs

     Two or more independent clauses can be combined into one compound sentence.  Using a semicolon, or a semicolon with a conjunctive adverb, helps to show the relationship between the ideas being combined. 

Using a Semicolon

     A semicolon is used to combine independent clauses when the clauses are closely related. 

• Separate sentences:  Illegal chemical dumping threatens the environment.  Failure to solve this problem could have severe consequences.
• Combined:  Illegal chemical dumping threatens the environment; failure to solve this problem could have severe consequences.

Using Conjunctive Adverbs

     Combining sentences using a conjunctive adverb and a semicolon further expresses the type of relationship between the two clauses.

     When you use a conjunctive adverb to connect two clauses, put a semicolon before it and a comma after it.

• Separate sentences:  Many people are committed to eliminating illegal dumping.  They do not always agree on the best way to do so.
• Combined:  Many people are committed to eliminating illegal dumping; however, they do not always agree on the best way to do so.

Practice

Choose the sentence that correctly combines ideas in a compound sentence.

______a.  First City Bank provides many financial services; it offers interest-bearing savings accounts, free checking accounts, safety deposit boxes, customer loans and other benefits.

______b.  Most people use the interest-bearing savings accounts; likewise they use the free checking accounts.

______c.  Some people use the safety deposit boxes; which keeps their valuables safe.

Answer:  a

The compound sentence shown in a correctly combines two related clauses using a semicolon.  Option b fails to include the comma after the conjunctive adverb likewise.  Option c is incorrect because the phrase "which keeps their valuables safe" is not an independent clause.