Question

What purpose does the semicolon serve in the following sentence?

Leticia has to leave early this afternoon; she has a doctor's appointment.
1. The semicolon separates the words in a series.
2. The semicolon joins two related independent clauses.
3. The semicolon introduces a quotation.
4. The semicolon summarizes the information that come before it.

Answer 1

1. The semicolon separates the words in a series.

Answer 2

2. The semicolon joins two related independent clauses.

Step-by-step explanation:

One of the functions of semicolons is to link two independent clauses that are closely related but that are not linked with a conjunction like and, but, or, nor, for, yet, or so. An independent clause is a group of words that have at least a subject and a verb and that express a complete thought on its own, such as the clauses "Leticia has to leave early this afternoon" and "she has a doctor's appointment."

In that sentence, the semicolon is used to join those two independent clauses that are closely related.