How to punctuate a sentence

When preparing for my GRE, understanding when to use the ';' to punctuate sentences was the one thing I couldn't quite get my head around. That was 1999; after blogging for the last 5 or so years, I think I have a firmer handle on how to use the ';' to punctuate sentences. For all of you out there taking the GRE/GMAT, here is a the key rule (the others are useful too):

Rule five

Complete sentences that are joined without a coordinating conjunction need a semi-colon instead of a comma; the semi-colon shows the end of one sentence and the beginning of the next. Semi-colons are often followed by a connecting word or phrase; however, a connecting word or phrase is not necessary. Sentences joined with only a comma are called comma splices; they’re among the most common errors that come up in college writing.

Good luck with the exam prep, your writing assignments ... life.