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Target 10: Semi-colons Double point target

The Second Use of Semi-colons

Semi-colons are used to join items in a list that
already have a comma.

Look at the example below:

I want to visit:

o Rome, Italy

o Paris, France

o Madrid, Spain.

If we put this together in a sentence using commas, look what happens:

Does this mean three places to visit or six?

I want to visit Rome, Italy, Paris, France and Madrid, Spain.

Semi-colons will sort out the mess and make it clearer.

I want to visit Rome, Italy; Paris, France; and Madrid, Spain.

Note – you have to put a semi-colon between the
last two items (before ‘and’).

Other lists that use semi-colons are lists of phrases that have commas in them. Look at
the example below.

Now, let’s put it together
I need to: as a sentence – and
o sell my car, which is old remember the semi-colon

o tidy my bedroom, which is untidy before the last item.

o mend my computer, which is broken.

I need to sell my car, which is old; tidy my bedroom, which is untidy; and

mend my computer, which is broken.

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