Use of the semicolon, the ";" symbol.
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votes
3answers
73 views
Why are semicolons so difficult?
I've had a look around for an answer to this question and just have not been able to find anything. Am I using a semicolon correctly in the following passage?
However, negative results for the ...
2
votes
1answer
62 views
Use semicolon or period when telling a result of an action?
If you look at these sentences, the second one is result of the first:
Alex shouts and feels pain in his leg, and he rubs the place with hand and looks at the leg. His leg swelled little bit.
So ...
2
votes
1answer
89 views
Why ; is called semicolon and what is its history? [closed]
Semi- is a Latin prefix meaning "half" and colon is another punctuation.
Should I therefore say that semicolon is a halved colon?
2
votes
2answers
141 views
Should I use commas or semi-colons in this multi-item list within a sentence?
In the following sentence, I am listing multiple areas of study. Should they be separated by commas or semi-colons?
"In my exposure to this field so far, I have come to appreciate just how ...
2
votes
1answer
85 views
Semicolon as a super-comma preceding “etc.”
I was wondering which punctuation to use preceeding etc. in an enumeration with semicolons as supercommas (as formulated here: http://theoatmeal.com/comics/semicolon).
People with dichromatic ...
-1
votes
1answer
83 views
Comma or semicolon?
Which of the following is correct?
This not only produces higher success rates, it increases our energy and morale instead of depleting them.
This not only produces higher success rates; it ...
1
vote
2answers
361 views
Use of a semicolon before and comma after “however”
Several years ago, a previous boss told me to use a semicolon and comma with the word "however". I've always questioned this and would like to know if the following random sentences are using the ...
1
vote
3answers
66 views
Is this a proper use of a semicolon and the word “whom”?
PCAs are usually assigned to an individual with a physical, mental, behavioral, or emotional handicap; whom they work with throughout the year.
Is this sentence grammatically correct? I know ...
0
votes
3answers
146 views
Can a semicolon be used to separate questions? [closed]
Did you see Survivor last night; it was crazy, right?
Did you see Survivor last night? It was crazy, right?
Can a semicolon separate questions? Which one is correct?
1
vote
1answer
42 views
How do you use ellipses in conjunction with semicolons in MLA quoting? [closed]
Here is a line of text from Willa Cather’s My Ántonia.
There was only—spring itself; the throb of it, the light restlessness...
I wish to end the quote at the semicolon. Eg:
"There was ...
2
votes
6answers
230 views
Em dash vs semicolon: which is more appropriate in the following examples?
I am very confused by these, and even when I understand other people's usage of them I find it difficult to know when to employ them myself. For this reason, I am trying to make my own examples and ...
0
votes
3answers
173 views
Are semicolons mandatory in a non-bulleted list after a colon?
Are semicolons required (rather than commas) in a list after a colon when the list is not bulleted? I was told that it was a rule, but I can find no authoritative prescriptive source.
Consider the ...
1
vote
1answer
123 views
Question about sentence structure and semicolons
Suppose the following sentence:
When the sun comes in the morning; the sky is blue.
Are "When the sun comes in the morning" and "the sky is blue" two clauses of the sentence? So, is it correct to ...
0
votes
1answer
91 views
Comma or Semicolon
I'm wondering if the comma placed after event is being used appropriately or if it should be replaced with a semicolon. This is part of a resume so I am trying to keep this information to one ...
2
votes
2answers
106 views
What is the rule of using semicolons in this sentence? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is it proper usage to replace a comma in a list with a semi-colon in this situation (see details)?
Transglobal historians are muscling up with their magnum opuses; ...
0
votes
2answers
151 views
Using a semicolon between elements in a list [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is it proper usage to replace a comma in a list with a semi-colon in this situation (see details)?
Is it ever appropriate to use semicolons to separate elements in a ...
-1
votes
3answers
629 views
Is a semicolon appropriate in this sentence? [closed]
Is 1 or 2 correct? Or neither?
I'm not saying I'm Batman, but answer me this; have you ever seen me and Batman in the same room?
I'm not saying I'm Batman, but answer me this. Have you ever ...
0
votes
2answers
105 views
How can this sentence be written correctly? [closed]
Our interactive products are fun to use on desktop, mobile and touchscreen devices, just look awesome and are driven by the latest technology.
The commas don't seem right to me. Shouldn't there ...
-2
votes
2answers
84 views
What is the best way and what are the differences to introduce a “pause explanatory” phrase inside another one? [closed]
In this example:
bla bla bla phrase such as even if something like this doesn’t exist bla bla bla.
What can I use to inject my phrase in the middle of the sentence?
,phrase, (commas)
;phrase; ...
5
votes
3answers
258 views
Is this correct usage of a semi-colon?
I always have problems with the use of semi-colons.
Is the following proper usage? They are connected but also standalone sentences.
I speak and write English fluently; as you can see from my CV, ...
2
votes
1answer
300 views
Is a single-word sentence like “No” an independent clause? And semicolons [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Comma or semicolon after “No” when responding to a question
It started because of this:
"No; I found the behavior off-putting."
I believe "no", as an ...
2
votes
5answers
1k views
Semicolons at the end of list items
In school, we were taught to end each list item with a semicolon. But I have never actually seen this. Can somebody please confirm this? Should we end each list item with anything at all?
I've seen ...
6
votes
2answers
643 views
How does using a semicolon or a full stop change meaning?
Federal agencies and Wal-Mart are investigating the charges; C. J.’s Seafood did not respond to The Times’s request for comment.
In this statement, what is the effect of semicolon in the meaning ...
1
vote
1answer
116 views
What is the correct punctuation to use in this case?
If I have a sentence like:
The royal family is extremely rich: The sled that pulls the princess
is shaped like a golden swan, the celebrations last 3 days, and the
bride and groom walk under a ...
5
votes
2answers
375 views
“Don't worry, …”
"Don't worry, it won't hurt much."
Is the comma the correct punctuation mark to use after "Don't worry"? This seems to be the norm, but I feel like there almost two sentences there and that ...
7
votes
5answers
555 views
How to punctuate lists that are nested to three levels?
A basic list is punctuated like this:
The park has some bears, deers, and other animals.
(bears) (deers) (other animals)
When commas appear inside the items of a list, or when lists appear ...
0
votes
3answers
279 views
What punctuation to use for “X or equivalently Y” and where does it go?
Suppose I have a phrase that expresses two statements as being equivalent. The details aren't important (they happen to be mathematical statements, and for the purpose of illustration, let's use "A is ...
0
votes
0answers
249 views
Punctuation in a bulleted list [closed]
In a bulleted list of why energy codes are important, I'm having trouble figuring out which punctuation to use. Here's the sentence and bullet:
"Energy codes help our state in many ways. For example, ...
2
votes
1answer
273 views
Proper usage of the semicolon [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Any examples of where a full-stop can't replace a semi-colon?
"I stepped outside to check the rain; it calmed down."
or
"I stepped outside to check the rain. It ...
0
votes
1answer
880 views
“—” vs. “;” vs. “,” vs. “()” — what's the difference? [closed]
All of these punctuation marks seem to have the same purpose.
Is there any general guideline for picking one for each use case?
1
vote
2answers
2k views
Starting a sentence with 'About your question, …'
I have noticed myself often starting a sentence like this:
About your drawing question, I don't think there is an easy way to draw these shapes.
Is it formal to start a sentence that way (formal ...
3
votes
1answer
252 views
Semicolon use: a quick question
Is the following sentence correct, and is its use of the semicolon correct? Note that the use of the word 'concurrency' is meant to indicate a computer science term.
A host of design issues are ...
3
votes
1answer
211 views
Any examples of where a full-stop can't replace a semi-colon?
By virtue of separating two closely related but separate thoughts, the semi-colon can generally be replaced by a full stop. I don't mean in the beauty and sound of it, but just grammatically. Can you ...
3
votes
0answers
45 views
Do I use semicolons to create a list where there are commas in the items? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is it proper usage to replace a comma in a list with a semi-colon in this situation (see details)?
When should one use the comma versus the semicolon, and vice versa?
I ...
5
votes
4answers
1k views
Should an ending semicolon be underlined?
Should the semicolon at the end of an underlined heading also be underlined?
4
votes
3answers
310 views
Is this a proper usage for a semicolon?
I enjoy kayaking, hiking, tennis, volleyball, skiing; and I really want to learn how to snowboard this winter.
3
votes
2answers
173 views
Is this a correct use for semicolons?
Is this sentence punctuated correctly?
Not only am I a wife, but a mother; not only a daughter, but a sister; not only a coworker, but a friend.
1
vote
3answers
303 views
What is the proper use of the semicolon in nested clauses?
I do a lot of technical writing where I feel that it is appropriate to clarify some technicality. I often produce nested clauses and sub-clauses but I am unsure about the proper use of the semicolon. ...
0
votes
1answer
128 views
Where to use “!”, “;”, “`” [closed]
Where should I use the following symbols while writing something in English language?
! — exclamation mark
; — semicolon
` — grave accent
11
votes
6answers
3k views
Am I misusing the semicolon?
Is the semicolon in the following sentence misused?
How can I miss you; we've never met?
I feel that the sentence, to be grammatically correct, must be split into its individual parts.
0
votes
2answers
263 views
How to join the conclusion to the sentence?
I am in the process of creating a post on one of the other Stackexchange sites, and I came across something I've been wanting to ask for a while:
When I VPN to work from my Windows desktop, I ...
2
votes
1answer
101 views
Correctly using a semicolon? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How does one correctly use a semicolon?
I was wondering if the following was the correct usage of a semicolon or if a comma is more apt for this use.
Well, have we ...
10
votes
3answers
295 views
Does this sentence make proper use of the semicolon and colon?
I have the following sentence:
Relationships once so convoluted and
beyond me were now clear: Pain became
love; betrayal, loyalty; nonchalance,
care.
What I'm trying to accomplish is list ...
6
votes
4answers
8k views
Does the word after a question mark start with a capital letter?
Should I write it like this? Or perhaps like this?
Should I write it like this? or perhaps like this?
What about after an exclamation mark or semicolon?
3
votes
4answers
215 views
Using the semicolon in my sentence
I am writing an essay and don't have a fundamental understanding in using semicolons, and in fact writing as well.
My sentence is below:
Group dynamics is the study of the processes and functions ...
7
votes
4answers
356 views
When and why did the em-dash and the hyphen supplant the semicolon?
It seems to me that semicolons are rarely used today in ordinary English writing - even in newspapers and books. They appear to have been replaced, in many cases, by em-dashes and hyphens (the hyphen ...
6
votes
4answers
837 views
When should you use a semicolon *with* a conjunction?
I know the basics of a semicolon—at least I think I do. Aside from delimiting verbose lists, it separates independent clauses of a sentence. So, if you have two independent clauses in a sentence, ...
2
votes
2answers
289 views
Can “;” be used to replace the word “but”?
Are these two sentences both correct and equivalent?
People say stuff like "all lawyers are
liars", but it's not true.
People say stuff like "all lawyers are
liars"; it's not true.
Is ...
1
vote
1answer
320 views
Are these sentences both grammatically correct?
I can no longer remember her face, too
much time has passed.
I can no longer remember her face; too
much time has passed.
3
votes
3answers
248 views
Understanding independent clauses
My understanding is that semicolons are used to separate independent clauses of a sentence, and also to delimit a list wherein one or more members contain a comma.
Regarding the first usage, my ...
