分號可說是介於逗號與句號之間的符號，可以用來連接與主題有緊密關連的片語或句子，而不必用連接詞（如以下第一個例句）。在列舉各項事物之間也可以用分號，如果列舉的事項中已經使用過逗號，其後就應以分號來連接，如以下第二例句。
舉例
- I like your brother; he's a good friend.
- Many great leaders, Churchill, leader of Britain during the Second World War; Alexander, the great Emperor and general; and Napolean, the brilliant French general, had strong characters, which were useful when their countries were at war but which did not serve them well in times of peace.