The semicolon is used for dividing a compound sentence into two or more
parts, not so closely connected as those which are separated by a comma,
nor yet so little dependant on each other, as those which are
distinguished by a colon.
RULE 1. When the preceding member of the sentence does not of itself
give complete sense, but depends on the following clause, and sometimes
when the sense of that member would be complete without the concluding
one, the semicolon is used; as in the following examples: "As the desire
of approbation, when it works according to reason, improves the amiable
part of our species; so, nothing is more destructive to them, when it is
governed by vanity and folly;" "The wise man is happy, when he gains his
own approbation; the fool, when he gains the applause of those around
him;" "Straws swim upon the surface; but pearls lie at the bottom."
_Exercises_.--The path of truth is a plain and safe path that of
falsehood a perplexing maze. Heaven is the region of gentleness and
friendship hell of fierceness and animosity. As there is a worldly
happiness which God perceives to be no other than disguised misery as
there are worldly honors which in his estimation are reproach so there
is a worldly wisdom which in his sight is foolishness.
But all subsists by elemental strife
And passions are the elements of life.
RULE 2. When an example is introduced to illustrate a rule or
proposition, the semicolon may be used before the conjunction _as;_ as
in the following instance: Prepositions govern the objective case; as,
"She gave the book _to_ him."
NOTE. In instances like the foregoing, many respectable punctuists
employ the colon, instead of the semicolon.