Am I using a semicolon correctly?

Question

Here's the sentence:

After reading what those four biologists had to say, I’m inclined to think that being a biologist means being in many places studying many different things on a daily basis; I think that Matt, Christine, and Mr. Stuart would probably agree.

I can never tell if I'm using a semicolon correctly, can someone give me a hint as to how, in the future, I might know if I'm using a semicolon the right, or wrong way.

Answer 1

I think the usage is correct.

Answer 2

Your use of the semi-colon is correct.  You could also just use a period there and start a new sentence.

Answer 3

A comma gives a short pause, and a semi-colon gives a slightly longer one, but still shorter than a period. That's what my good language teacher taught me, ages ago--i hope she was right. Your sentence would be too long if a semi-colon, dash or colon is used, but the use of a period isn't wrong. Ensure your writing has  a good mix of short, medium and long sentences.

So i would rewrite your sentence this way, with the inclusion of a comma, a period, and substituting 'and' for one of  your commas, to read more smoothly:

After reading what those four biologists had to say, I'm inclined to think that being a biologist means being in many places and studying many different things on a daily basis. I think that Matt, Christine, and Mr. Stuart would probably agree.

Answer 4

It's technically correct, but it sounds awkward because you say "I think that Matt..." eliminate the "I" and just have( ...on a daily basis; Matt, Christine..)

A semicolon is used to join two complete sentences that are related without using a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so,  aka FANBOYS).  So, if you don't write, "A special news cast came on, so we missed our show" you can write, "A special news cast came on; we missed our show." Another example would be, "I barely slept, and today I'm tired" or "I barely slept; today I'm tired"

Answer 5

This is not a great use of a semi colon and I would create a new sentence.

There are a lot of good uses for a semicolon; some of them better than others.  Whatever the use, it should not be used to cure a run on sentence, which is what you have.

A helpful hint.  A semicolon is often the written version of a verbal caviat.  If you find yourself clarifying a spoken idea that is probably the best place for a semicolon.

The room was a horrible mess tonight; well, more than usual.

I had a lot of friends when I was younger; friends that cared anyway.

After publishing my answer I was going to go back and give an example if a good sentence but it looks like Universal did it for me.  Good Job, I like his representation.