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We were always taught to use a semicolon whenever two sentences were connected and the overall sentence already had another comma.
For example: When it is hot outside, the sun is usually shining; and the birds like to sing.

The other time I was taught to use it was with certain conjunctions such as however.
For example: I liked the book; however, I thought the plot could have been better.

I used the second example in a review recently and was told it was incorrect. Can someone please clarify if either of these examples correctly use semicolons? Thank you!

The website (removed by mod) has a good comic explaining how to use semicolons! I found it really helpful in the past.

Semi-colons are never used with conjunctions. They replace conjunctions and natural pauses in written thoughts. They separate two independent (but related) thoughts.

I hope this helps!

In college (ENC1101) I was thought to use a semicolon to connect two 'separate' complete thoughts.
For example:

It is so very hot outside; I feel like going for a swim.

1st thought: It is very hot out
2nd thought: One feels like going for a swim

Cf. The Elements of Style:

"If two or more clauses, grammatically complete and not joined by a conjunction, are to form a single compound sentence, the proper mark of punctuation is a semicolon."

Example:

Stevenson's romances are entertaining; they are full of exciting adventures.
It is nearly half past five; we cannot reach town before dark.

Both of course can be cut into separate sentence with periods.

Stevenson's romances are entertaining. They are full of exciting adventures.
It is nearly half past five. We cannot reach town before dark.

If you add a conjunction the proper mark is a comma:

Stevenson's romances are entertaining, for they are full of exciting adventures.
It is nearly half past five, and we cannot reach town before dark.

Note that you can find and read The Elements of Style for free as it is in the public domain

anneloretrujillo wrote:The other time I was taught to use it was with certain conjunctions such as however.
For example: I liked the book; however, I thought the plot could have been better.

I used the second example in a review recently and was told it was incorrect. Can someone please clarify if either of these examples correctly use semicolons? Thank you!

The first sentence is definitely correct. As for the second sentence, I've always been taught to use a semicolon in front of words like 'however' and 'therefore' in that manner when it is separating two complete sentences that relate to one another. Is it possible that the person who corrected you is from another country? It seems that maybe they are, so they follow different rules.

if the second clause is preceded by an adverb, such as accordingly, besides, then, therefore, or thus, and not by a conjunction, a semicolon is required.

http://www.grammar-monster.com/lessons/ ... hrases.htm

Here's a good link to explain the rules that I mentioned in the original post.

It is used to join two complete sentences into a single written sentence. You can hire an expert tutor who will guide you grammar concepts about any topic such as punctuation mark, Colon, Semicolons from start to end point. When you are well expert in English grammar then you can use all the grammar tags in a proper manner.

ChillFil wrote:In college (ENC1101) I was thought to use a semicolon to connect two 'separate' complete thoughts.
For example:

It is so very hot outside; I feel like going for a swim.

1st thought: It is very hot out
2nd thought: One feels like going for a swim

Me too