Final answer:
A semicolon is used to connect two independent clauses that are closely related. It's not used with coordinating conjunctions but can be used before transitional words. Examples help illustrate correct usage of semicolons in compound sentences.
Step-by-step explanation:
Using Semicolons in English
To use semicolons correctly, one must understand that they're employed to connect two independent clauses that are closely related in meaning, but not joined by a coordinating conjunction. Using a semicolon is appropriate in cases where the second clause restates the first or when they complement each other, without the presence of connecting words such as for, and, nor, but, or, yet, or so.
An example of a correct usage is: 'Road construction in Seattle has hindered travel around town; streets have become covered with bulldozers, trucks, and cones.' This illustrates two independent clauses that are related in context and meaning, hence the use of a semicolon.
It is important to note that semicolons are also used with transitional words or phrases like 'however' or 'therefore', with the transitional word being followed by a comma. Whenever a coordinating conjunction is present to connect two related independent clauses, such as in 'This peach is way beyond ripe, and I refuse to pay for it,' a comma is used instead of a semicolon.
In contrast, 'complex sentences' with a dependent clause, such as 'She is going to be a schoolteacher because she believes education is the most fundamental pillar of the republic.' do not require a semicolon, as the sentence consists of an independent clause joined to a dependent clause.