Semicolons: They’re only semi-easy!

The Language Portal’s navigation menu

Good news: the Language Portal of Canada has a new menu that will help you to easily navigate between our language resources and quickly find answers to your language-related questions!

Want to learn how to use the menu? Check out this short tutorial on the new features.

Do you think you know your semicolons? Try our quiz and see if you can identify which of these sentences use this punctuation mark correctly.

1. An online presence is essential for small businesses; but according to Forbes, the influential business magazine, research shows that smaller businesses are not making the most of their web presence.
2. We managed to see some of London’s major landmarks on our seven‑hour whirlwind tour; Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey.
3. My train arrives at 8:00 p.m.; otherwise, I would have joined you for the 7:30 p.m. show.
4. Mel wanted to improve her small business’s online presence; she decided to create a Facebook page and an Instagram account to complement the business’s website.
5. The assistant’s tasks include drafting correspondence, emails and memos; scheduling meetings, appointments and interviews; and contacting partners, clients and suppliers.
6. Some people practice yoga to relax; others, mindfulness.
7. Contrary to popular belief, male groundhogs do not emerge from their burrows on February 2 to spot their shadows; they emerge; rather, to search for mates.
  
Date modified:

Search with Language Navigator

Language Navigator searches through the Language Portal of Canada’s resources to help you quickly find answers to questions about language or writing, in English and French.

Quiz categories

Click on a quiz category.

Other resources on the Language Portal