When using a transition, do I put the semicolon before or after it? For example, if I'm saying "in fact" is it written
(;in fact,)
or
(,in fact;)
?
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Please edit your question. Place each example on its own separate line. Right now it's indecipherable.– RickyCommented Nov 24, 2015 at 13:45
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1Example context, please.– FumbleFingersCommented Nov 24, 2015 at 13:54
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As FumbleFingers notes, this is entirely dependent on context.– chosterCommented Nov 26, 2015 at 2:25
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Correct: "Capybaras are mammals; in fact, they are rodents. They live in South America." Also correct: "Capybaras are mammals. They are rodents, in fact; and they live in South America." These aren't the only correct ways to punctuate my two examples, but they are correct ways.– Sven YargsCommented Nov 26, 2015 at 5:24
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1 Answer
That all depends on whether you want it to belong to the sentence before or after the in fact. Notice the difference:
- He never said much; in fact, he never really said anything.
- He never said much. He never said anything, in fact; I didn't like that.
In both cases, the in fact indicates further explanation for the he never said much and the phrase he never really said anything is that further explanation.
I am not sure as to which of the two orders is more frequent. To me, the first one (where in fact comes before the rest of the sentence) sounds more natural.
