[Hot Tabasco]

The em dash (—) is punctuation loved by writers everywhere,

I'm still trying to figure out when to use a semicolon.

[MayflowerMadam]

“I’m still trying to figure out when to use a semicolon.”

The way I learned it is that you have two complete sentences that are so closely connected that a period would tend to dilute the full meaning.

Of course, in lists ...

[Bob434]

Use it where a transition word can be used, ie:

I bought a motorcycle; life is too short 5o care about safety.

Transition word would be “because”

I bought a bike b3cause life is too short to care about safety

I went to the ballgame; Shelly went to the park

Transition word would be “while”

I went to the ballgame while Shelly went to the park

Or

I went to the ballgame because Shelly went to the park

; links two things

: before lists, ie Frank had a million things to do: milk the cows, feed the chickens, wash the car, mow the grass, rob a bank, slap his neighbor, harvest the marijuana crop, make meth, brush his tooth

Ther3 are other uses too for both, but those are the basics