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a general right to
choose our own governors; to cashier them for misconduct; and to form
a government for ourselves.

The semicolon is used in enumerations, as in the last example, in order
to keep the parts more distinctly separate.
XXII. When a sentence consists of two or more independent clauses
not joined by conjunctions, the clauses are separated by semicolons.
To command a crime is to commit one; he who commands an
assassination, is by every one regarded as an assassin.
His knowledge was too multifarious to be always exact; his pursuits
were too eager to be always cautious.
If the conjunction "and" were inserted in the last sentence, the comma
would be used instead of the semicolon. A conjunction forms a bridge
over the gap between two statements, and, where they are neither long
nor complicated, we pass from one to the other without noticing any
distinct break. But there is such a break when the conjunction is
omitted, and therefore we use a stronger point. The two parts of an
antithesis are generally separated in this way.
XXIII. A pause generally indicated by a comma may be indicated by a
semicolon when commas are used in the sentence for other purposes.
(See Introduction: Relativity of Points.)
I got several things of less value, but not all less useful to me, which I
omitted setting down before: as, in particular, pens, ink, and paper;
several parcels in the captain's, mate's, gunner's, and carpenter's
keeping; three or four compasses, some mathematical instruments, dials,
perspectives, charts, and books of navigation.
In this I was certainly in the wrong too, the honest, grateful creature
having no thought but what consisted of the best principles, both as a
religious Christian and as a grateful friend; as appeared afterward to my
full satisfaction.
In the first sentence the semicolon enables us to group the objects
enumerated. Had commas been used throughout, the reader would have
been left to find out the arrangement for himself.

THE COLON
XXIV. The colon is used to indicate pauses more abrupt than those
indicated by the semicolon.
God has willed it: submit in thankfulness.
The wind raged, and the rain beat against the window: it was a
miserable day.
Nevertheless, you will say that there must be a difference between true
poetry and true speech not poetical: what is the difference?
The first example contains two clauses that are connected in such a way
as to justify us in putting them into one sentence; that it is God's will, is
a reason for submitting. The proper point therefore should be
something less than the full stop. But there is a striking difference
between the clauses; for we pass from an affirmation to a command.
Therefore something more than the semicolon is needed. Had the
clauses been similar in construction, the pause would have been
sufficiently indicated by the semicolon: "God has willed it; man has
resisted."
In the second example there is not the same change of grammatical
construction, but the change in thought is equally great; we pass from a
statement of details to a statement of the general result. The colon is
frequently used in sentences of this kind, where the phrase "in short" is
implied but is not expressed.
Many writers indicate such abrupt changes by means of the dash.
XXV. A pause generally indicated by a semicolon may be indicated by
a colon, when the semicolon is used in the sentence for pauses of a
different nature.
The "Essay" plainly appears the fabric of a poet: what Bolingbroke
supplied could be only the first principles; the order, illustration, and

embellishments, must all be Pope's.
Not that we are to think that Homer wanted judgment, because Virgil
had it in a more eminent degree; or that Virgil wanted invention,
because Homer possessed a larger share of it: each of these great
authors had more of both than, perhaps, any man besides, and are only
said to have less in comparison with one another.
Homer hurries and transports us with a commanding impetuosity;
Virgil leads us with an attractive majesty: Homer scatters with a
generous profusion; Virgil bestows with a careful magnificence.
Compare these examples with those given to show how the semicolon
replaces the comma. (Rule XXIII.) Note also how the last sentence is
divided in the middle into two parts, and that each of these two parts is
itself divided into two parts. By Rule XXII. the second division is
indicated by the semicolon; and we bring out the grouping of the
sentence by using a colon for the first division.
XXVI. The colon is used before enumerations, especially where
"namely," or "viz.," is implied but is not expressed; and when so used it
is sometimes followed by the dash.
Three nations adopted this law: England, France,