Question

Does a semicolon join two independent clauses to make a compound sentence? Does a semicolon turn two separate sentences into one sentence?

Answer 1

A semicolon joins two independent, but closely related, clauses (sentences) into one sentence.

Explanation:

A semicolon is a punctuation mark that joins two closely related independent clauses into one sentence. It could be used instead of a coordinating conjunction.

For example:
After marriage, Michael continued using his bicycle; Daisy would sit on a seat attached to the carrier.

Semicolons are also used to separate items in a list, especially when individual items may themselves have conjunctions or commas that prevent separation using commas.

For example:
Michael and Daisy had a whirlwind honeymoon tour visiting Delhi, India; Kathmandu, Nepal; Lhasa, Tibet; and Naypyidaw, Myanmar.