How to interpret semicolon

[wj097]

Hello,

Was wondering if there was a LSAT way of interpreting semicolons...my understanding of semicolon is that it is equivalent to "because", and this is a watch out word for introducing some kind of reason (premise) for a conclusion. Thx

[tommywallach]

Hey There,

So the truth of the matter is the semicolon does NOT work in a definitive way like that. It could mean "because," but it could actually mean "therefore."

I don't want to go to the movies tonight; there was a car alarm going off all night and I barely slept.

I just ate all the hummus in the fridge; Tallie is gonna be pissed when she gets home.

All a semicolon does is imply SOME kind of important relationship between the two independent clauses--either causal or resultative (yes that's a word, even if this forum thinks it's misspelled). Don't depend on the structure to tell you the meaning, but focus in on the content itself.

Hope that helps!

-t