Punctuation Questions Medium
A comma and a semicolon are both punctuation marks used in compound sentences, but they serve different purposes.
A comma is used to separate two independent clauses (complete sentences) that are joined by a coordinating conjunction (such as "and," "but," "or," etc.). The comma is placed before the coordinating conjunction. For example: "I went to the store, and I bought some groceries." In this sentence, the comma separates the two independent clauses "I went to the store" and "I bought some groceries," which are joined by the coordinating conjunction "and."
On the other hand, a semicolon is used to connect two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction. It is used when the two clauses are closely related in meaning or when the second clause provides additional information or clarification to the first clause. For example: "She loves to read; books are her favorite pastime." In this sentence, the semicolon connects the two independent clauses "She loves to read" and "books are her favorite pastime" without the need for a coordinating conjunction.
In summary, a comma is used with a coordinating conjunction to join two independent clauses, while a semicolon is used to connect two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction.