- Full stop
A semicolon can generally be replaced by a full stop.
The Governing Council agreed to the deficit plan. The Student Council rejected it. However, the semicolon suggests that the two smaller sentences are more closely related than the average two consecutive sentences.
- A connecting word
A semicolon can also be replaced by a suitable connecting word (and, or, but, while, yet) with a joining comma.
The Governing Council agreed to the deficit plan, yet the Student Council rejected it. However, certain connecting words must be preceded by a semicolon or full stop. The most common among these are consequently, hence, however, meanwhile, nevertheless, therefore and thus.
The two sides have refused to negotiate; consequently, the deficit plan has been suspended.